John Selden Quotes

Wise men say nothing in dangerous times.

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

He that has not religion to govern his morality, is not a dram better than my mastiff-dog; so long as you stroke him, and please him, and do not pinch him, he will play with you as finely as may be, he is a very good moral mastiff; but if you hurt him, he will fly in your face, and tear out your throat.

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

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.

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

Money makes a man laugh.

To preach long, loud, and Damnation, is the way to be cried up. We love a man that damns us, and we run after him again to save us.

Pleasures are all alike simply considered in themselves: he that hunts, or he that governs the commonwealth, they both please themselves alike, only we commend that, whereby we ourselves receive some benefit.

A glorious Church is like a magnificent feast; there is all the variety that may be, but every one chooses out a dish or two that he likes, and lets the rest alone.

In my intellect, I may divide (faith and works), just as in the candle I know there is both light and heat; yet put out the candle, and both are gone.

Humanity is a Virtue all preach, none practice, and yet every body is content to hear.

No man is the wiser for his learning.

'Tis a fine thing for children to learn to make verse; but when they come to be men, they must speak like other men, or else they will be laughed at.

Casting out devils is mere juggling; they never cast out any but what they first cast in.