There is nothing more certain in nature than that it is impossible for any body to be utterly annihilated.

The genius of any single man can no more equal learning, than a private purse hold way with the exchequer.

Corporations have neither bodies to be punished, nor souls to be condemned, they therefore do as they like.

It is as natural to die as to be born; and to a little infant, perhaps, the one is as painful as the other.

All of our actions take their hue from the complexion of the heart, as landscapes their variety from light.

It is nothing won to admit men with an open door, and to receive them with a shut and reserved countenance.

Liberty of speech invites and provokes liberty to be used again, and so bringeth much to a man's knowledge.

For friends... do but look upon good Books: they are true friends, that will neither flatter nor dissemble.

Revenge is a kind of wild justice, which the more a man's nature runs to, the more ought law to weed it out.

If my people look as if they're in a dreadful fix, it's because I can't get them out of a technical dilemma.

Men leave their riches either to their kindred or their friends, and moderate portions prosper best in both.

Knowledge hath in it somewhat of the serpent, and therefore where it entereth into a man it makes him swell.

Seek ye first the good things of the mind, and the rest will either be supplied or its loss will not be felt.

For cleanness of body was ever esteemed to proceed from a due reverence to God, to society, and to ourselves.

When a traveler returneth home, let him not leave the countries where he hath traveled altogether behind him.

It is good discretion not make too much of any man at the first; because one cannot hold out that proportion.

Since custom is the principal magistrate of man's life, let men by all means endeavor to obtain good customs.

But men must know, that in this theatre of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on.

All the crimes on earth do not destroy so many of the human race nor alienate so much property as drunkenness.

Painting today is pure intuition and luck and taking advantage of what happens when you splash the stuff down.

Princes are like heavenly bodies, which cause good or evil times, and which have much veneration, but no rest.

The natures and dispositions of men are, not without truth, distinguished from the predominance of the planets.

Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.

It is a true rule that love is ever rewarded, either with the reciproque or with an inward and secret contempt.

As the births of living creatures at first are ill-shapen, so are all innovations, which are the births of time.

As the births of living creatures are at first ill-shapen, so are all innovations, which are the births of time.

This is certain, that a man that studieth revenge keeps his wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well.

It has well been said that the arch-flatterer, with whom all petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man's self.

Out of monuments, names, words proverbs ...and the like, we do save and recover somewhat from the deluge of time.

The voice of the people has about it something divine: for how otherwise can so many heads agree together as one?

Imagination was given to man to compensate him for what he is not; a sense of humor to console him for what he is.

When a man laughs at his troubles he loses a great many friends. They never forgive the loss of their prerogative.

Judges must beware of hard constructions and strained inferences, for there is no worse torture than that of laws.

There ought to be gardens for all months in the year, in which, severally, things of beauty may be then in season.

They who derive their worth from their ancestors resemble potatoes, the most valuable part of which is underground.

The pencil of the Holy Ghost hath labored more in describing the afflictions of Job than the felicities of Solomon.

It was prettily devised of Aesop, The fly sat on the axle tree of the chariot wheel and said, what dust do I raise!

I paint for myself. I don't know how to do anything else, anyway. Also I have to earn my living, and occupy myself.

A little philosophy inclineth man's mind to atheism, but depth in philosophy bringeth men's minds about to religion.

It is not the lie that passeth through the mind, but the lie that sinketh in and settleth in it, that doth the hurt.

Certainly the best works, and of greatest merit for the public, have proceeded from the unmarried, or childless men.

The mystery lies in the irrationality by which you make appearance - if it is not irrational, you make illustration.

The person is a poor judge who by an action can be disgraced more in failing than they can be honored in succeeding.

The schoolmaster is abroad, and I trust to him, armed with his primer, against the soldier in full military array...

Seek not proud riches, but such as thou mayest get justly, use soberly, distribute cheerfully, and leave contentedly.

It is in life as it is in ways, the shortest way is commonly the foulest, and surely the fairer way is not much about.

Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.

Boldness is ever blind, for it sees not dangers and inconveniences whence it is bad in council though good in execution.

Men are rather beholden ... generally to chance or anything else, than to logic, for the invention of arts and sciences.

Men suppose their reason has command over their words; still it happens that words in return exercise authority on reason

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