It Is Not Wisdom But Authority That

I Am About To Take My Last Voyage, A Great Leap In The Dark.

And In These Four Things, Opinion Of Ghosts , Ignorance Of Second Causes, Devotion Towards What Men Fear , And Taking Of Things Casual For Prognostics , Consisteth The Natural Seed Of Religion ; Which By Reason Of The Different Fancies, Judgments And Passions Of Several Men, Has Grown Up Into Ceremonies So Different, That Those Which Are Used By One Man, Are For The Most Part Ridiculous To Another.

Men Are Not Therefore Put To Death, Or Punished For That Their Theft Proceedeth From Election; But Because It Was Noxious And Contrary To Men's Preservation, And The Punishment Conducing To The Preservation Of The Rest, Inasmuch As To Punish Those That Do Voluntary Hurt, And None Else, Frameth And Maketh Men's Wills Such As Men Would Have Them.

A Wise Man Should So Write (though In Words Understood By All Men) That Wise Men Only Should Be Able To Commend Him.

Subjects Have No Greater Liberty In A Popular Than In A Monarchial State. That Which Deceives Them Is The Equal Participation Of Command.