The secret thoughts of a man run over all things, holy, profane, clean, obscene, grave, and light, without shame or blame.

There is no such thing as perpetual tranquillity of mind while we live here; because life itself is but motion, and can never be without desire, nor without fear, no more than without sense.

A man's conscience and his judgment is the same thing; and as the judgment, so also the conscience, may be erroneous.

He that is taken and put into prison or chains is not conquered, though overcome; for he is still an enemy.

Such is the nature of men, that howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty, or more eloquent, or more learned; yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves.

The praise of ancient authors proceeds not from the reverence of the dead, but from the competition and mutual envy of the living.

The privilege of absurdity; to which no living creature is subject, but man only.

Prudence is but experience, which equal time, equally bestows on all men, in those things they equally apply themselves unto.

Understanding is nothing else than conception caused by speech.

No mans error becomes his own Law; nor obliges him to persist in it.