"The human understanding is like a false mirror, which, receiving rays irregularly, distorts and discolors the nature of things by mingling its own nature with it."

"Men fear death as children fear to go in the dark; and as that natural fear in children is increased with tales, so is the other."

"Histories make men wise; poets, witty; the mathematics, subtle; natural philosophy, deep; moral, grave; logic and rhetoric, able to contend."

"The eye of the understanding is like the eye of the body; it sees all things else, but cannot see itself."

"Power to do good is the true and lawful end of aspiring. For good thoughts (though God accept them) yet towards men are little better than good dreams, except they be put in act; and that cannot be wi…"