George Savile (1633 – 1695)
English statesman, writer, and politician.
He that leaveth nothing to chance will do few things ill, but he will do very few things.
Nothing would more contribute to make a Man wise, than to have always an Enemy in his view.
A very great Memory often forgetteth how much Time is lost by repeating things of no Use.
The Triumph of Wit is to make your good Nature subdue your Censure; to be quick in seeing Faults, and slow in exposing them. You are to consider, that the invisible thing called a Good Name, is made up of the Breath of Numbers that speak well of you; so that if by a disobliging Word you silence the meanest, the Gale will be less strong which is to bear up your Esteem.
Malice is of a low Stature, but it hath very long Arms.
Men who borrow their Opinions can never repay their Debts. They are Beggars by Nature, and can therefore never get a Stock to grow rich upon.
Men are so unwilling to displease a Prince, that it is as dangerous to inform him right, as to serve him wrong.
Nothing hath an uglier Look to us than Reason, when it is not of our side.
A Little Learning misleadeth, and a great deal often stupifieth the Understanding.
Malice, like Lust, when it is at the Height, doth not know Shame.
Remember that Children and Fools want every thing because they want Wit to distinguish: and therefore there is no stronger Evidence of a Crazy Understanding, than the making too large a Catalogue of things necessary, when in truth there are so very few things that have a right to be placed in it.
Half the Truth is often as arrant a Lye, as can be made.
Most men make little other use of their Speech than to give evidence against their own Understanding.
Men make it such a point of honour to be fit for business that they forget to examine whether business is fit for a man.
Some Mens Memory is like a Box, where a Man should mingle his Jewels with his old Shoes.
Every single Act either weakeneth or improveth our Credit with other Men ; and as an habit of being just to our Word will confirm, so an habit of too freely dispensing with it must necessarily destroy it.
A Man may dwell so long upon a Thought, that it may take him Prisoner.
The People are never so perfectly backed, but that they will kick and fling if not stroked at seasonable times.
A Man may so overdo it in looking too far before him, that he may stumble the more for it.
The best way to suppose what may come, is to remember what is past.