The proper work of man, the grand drift of human life, is to follow reason, that noble spark kindled in us from heaven.
If men are wont to play with swearing anywhere, can we expect they should be serious and strict therein at the bar or in the church.
In defiance of all the tortue, of all the might, of all the malice of the world, the liberal man will ever be rich; for God’s providence is his estate, God’s wisdom and power are his defence, God’s love and favor are his reward, and God’s word is his security.
Sin is never at a stay; if we do not retreat from it, we shall advance in it; and the farther on we go, the more we have to come back.
Slander is a complication, a comprisal and sum of all wickedness.
Nature has concatenated our fortunes and affections together with indissoluble bands of mutual sympathy.
Generosity is nothing more seen than in a candid estimation of other men’s virtues and good qualities.
As a stick, when once it is dry and stiff you may break it, but you can never bend it into a straighter posture; so doth the man become incorrigible who is settled and stiffened into vice.
It consisteth in one knows not what, and springeth up one can hardly tell how. Its ways are unaccountable and inexplicable, being answerable to the numberless rovings of fancy and windings of language.
Because Mathematicians frequently make use of Time, they ought to have a distinct idea of the meaning of that Word, otherwise they are Quacks.
It is commonly said that revenge is sweet, but to a calm and considerate mind, patience and forgiveness are sweeter.
We may be as good as we please, if we please to be good.
None are too wise to be mistaken, but few are so wisely just as to acknowledge and correct their mistakes, and especially the mistakes of prejudice.
If we desire to live securely, comfortably, and quietly, that by all honest means we should endeavor to purchase the good will of all men, and provoke no man’s enmity needlessly; since any man’s love may be useful, and every man’s hatred is dangerous.
Shall we keep our hands in our bosom, or stretch ourselves on our beds of laziness, while all the world about us is hard at work, in pursuing the designs of its creation?
Nothing hath wrought more prejudice to religion, or brought more disparagement upon truth, than boisterous and unseasonable zeal.
Virtue is not a mushroom, that springeth up of itself in one night when we are asleep, or regard it not; but a delicate plant, that groweth slowly and tenderly, needing much pains to cultivate it, much care to guard it, much time to mature it, in our untoward soil, in this world’s unkindly weather.
There do remain dispersed in the soil of human nature divers seeds of goodness, of benignity, of ingenuity, which, being cherished, excited, and quickened by good culture, do, by common experience, thrust out flowers very lovely, and yield fruits very pleasant of virtue and goodness.
Industry has annexed thereto the fairest fruits and the richest rewards.
Mr Newton, a fellow of our College, and very young, being but the second year master of arts; but of an extraordinary genius and proficiency.