The French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are.

[ Confession to Parliament of his being guilty of corruption as Lord Chancellor :] I beseech your Lordships, be merciful unto a broken reed.

Above all things, good policy is to be used that the treasure and moneys in a state be not gathered into few hands. For otherwise a state may have a great stock, and yet starve. And money is like muck, not good except it be spread.

Patience and gravity of hearing is an essential part of justice; and an overspeaking judge is no well-tuned cymbal.

There was a young man in Rome that was very like Augustus Caesar; Augustus took knowledge of it and sent for the man, and asked him “Was your mother never at Rome?” He answered “No Sir; but my father was.”

Nothing is terrible except fear itself.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

There are four classes of Idols which beset men’s minds. To these for distinction’s sake I have assigned names—calling the first class, Idols of the Tribe; the second, Idols of the Cave; the third, Idols of the Market-Place; the fourth, Idols of the Theater.

Be not penny-wise: riches have wings, and sometimes they fly away of themselves; sometimes they must be set flying to bring in more.

Virtue is like precious odours,—most fragrant when they are incensed or crushed.