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It hath been an opinion that the French are wiser than they seem, and the Spaniards seem wiser than they are; but howsoever it be between nations, certainly it is so between man and man.

If a man look sharply and attentively, he shall see Fortune; for though she is blind, she is not invisible.

Chiefly the mold of a man's fortune is in his own hands.

We take cunning for a sinister or crooked wisdom. And certainly there is a great difference, between a cunning man, and a wise man; not only in point of honesty, but in point of ability. There be, that can pack the cards, and yet cannot play well; so there are some that are good in canvasses and factions, that are otherwise weak men.

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. This is done, chiefly by suppressing, or at least keeping a strait hand, upon the devouring trades of usury, ingrossing great pasturages, and the like.

And let a man beware, how he keepeth company with choleric and quarrelsome persons; for they will engage him into their own quarrels.

Nothing doth more hurt in a state than that cunning men pass for wise.

As the births of living creatures at first are ill-shapen, so are all Innovations, which are the births of time.

He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator.

Be true to thyself, as thou be not false to others.

When a traveller returneth home, let him not leave the countries, where he hath travelled, altogether behind him; but maintain a correspondence by letters, with those of his acquaintance, which are of most worth. And let his travel appear rather in his discourse, than his apparel or gesture

Fortune is like the market, where many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.