Wise men ... learn by others' harms, fools scarcely by their own.

Those who govern, having much business on their hands, do not generally like to take the trouble of considering and carrying into execution new projects. The best public measures are therefore seldom adopted from previous wisdom, but forced by the occasion.

Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen as by little advantages that occur every day.

Historians relate not so much what is done as what they would have believed.

How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep holidays than commandments.

He that lives upon hope will die fasting.

Idleness and pride tax with a heavier hand than kings and parliaments.

Where there's marriage without love, there will be love without marriage.

A false friend and a shadow attend only while the sun shines.

To be proud of knowledge is to be blind with light.