John Selden

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

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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.

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We pick out a text here and there to make it serve our turn; whereas, if we take it all together, and considered what went before and what followed after, we should find it meant no such thing.

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The clergy would have us believe them against our own reason, as the woman would have her husband against his own eyes.

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

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Old friends are best, King James used to call for his old shoes; they were easiest on his feet.

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Few men make themselves masters of the things they write or speak.

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Humility is a virtue all preach, none practice, and yet everybody is content to hear.

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Commonly we say a judgment falls upon a man for something in him we cannot abide.

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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 confute him.

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The happiness of married life depends upon making small sacrifices with readiness and cheerfulness.

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'Tis not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the excess.

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Humility is a virtue all preach, none practice; and yet everybody is content to hear.

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Wit and wisdom are born with a man.

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Never tell your resolution beforehand.

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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.

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Quotes by John Selden