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conscience of him that is Chancellor, and as that is larger or narrower, so is Equity. ’T is all one as if they should make the standard for the measure we call a “foot” a Chancellor’s foot; what an uncertain measure would this be! One Chancellor has a long foot, another a short foot, a third an indifferent foot. ’T is the same thing in the Chancellor’s conscience.

Table Talk. Equity.

2201

Old friends are best. King James used to call for his old shoes; they were easiest for his feet. 1

Table Talk. Friends.

2202

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

Table Talk. Humility.

2203

’T is not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the excess.

Table Talk. Humility.

2204

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

Table Talk. Judgments.

2205

Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because ’t is an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to refute him.

Table Talk. Law.

2206

No man is the wiser for his learning.

Table Talk. Learning.

2207

Wit and wisdom are born with a man.

Table Talk. Learning.

2208

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

Table Talk. Learning.

2209

Take a straw and throw it up into the air,—you may see by that which way the wind is.

Table Talk. Libels.

2210

Philosophy is nothing but discretion.

Table Talk. Philosophy.

2211

Marriage is a desperate thing.

Table Talk. Marriage.

2212

Thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the world. 2

Table Talk. Pope.

Note 1.
See Bacon, Quotation 57. [back]

Note 2.
Behold, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed.—Oxenstiern (1583–1654). [back]

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