In all negotiations of difficulties. a man may not look to sow and reap at once but must prepare business, and so ripen it by degrees.

A crowd is not company and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk but a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love.

Nuptial love maketh mankind; friendly love perfectecth it; but wanton love corrupteth and embaseth it.

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

Age appears to be best in four things. Old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Money is like muck—not good unless it be spread.

Money is a good servant but a bad master.

A prudent question is one half of wisdom.

The arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence is a man's self.

Death ...openeth the gate to good fame and extinguisheth envy.