JOHN SELDEN

The world cannot be governed without juggling.

Prayer should be short, without giving God Almighty reasons why he should grant this, or that; he knows best what is good for us.

Of all actions of a man's life, his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all actions of our life tis most meddled with by other people.

Idolatry is in a man's own thought, not in the opinion of another.

They that govern the most make the least noise.

In quoting of books, quote such authors as are usually read; others you may read for your own satisfaction, but not name them.

A king is a thing men have made for their own sakes, for quietness sake. Just as in a family one man is appointed to buy the meat.

No man is the wiser for his learning; it may administer matter to work in, or objects to work upon; but wit and wisdom are born with a man.

Pleasure is nothing else but the intermission of pain.

Old friends are best.

It's not the drinking to be blamed, but the excess.

Tis not seasonable to call a man traitor, that has an army at his heels.

Philosophy is nothing but discretion.

They that are against superstition oftentimes run into it of the wrong side. If I wear all colors but black, then I am superstitious in not wearing black.

It is good to preach the same thing again, for that's the way to have it learned

Use your logick, and then your rhetorick. Rhetorick without logick, is like a tree with leaves and blossoms, but no root; yet I confess more are taken with rhetorick than logick, because they are catched with a free expression, when they understand not reason. Logick must be natural, or it is worth nothing at all: Your rhetorick figures may be learned.

Man’s writing has but one true sense, which is that which the Author meant when he writ it.

Wise men say nothing in dangerous times.

Scrutamini scripturas [Latin for “Let us look at the scriptures.”). These two words have undone the world.

The law against witches does not prove there be any; …

Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because 'tis an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to refute him.

Money makes a man laugh.

A gallant man is above ill words.

'Tis not the eating, nor 'tis not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the excess.

We measure the excellency of other men by some excellency we conceive to be in ourselves.