A good Statesman may sometimes mistake as much by being too humble as by being too proud: He must take upon him in order to do his Duty, and not in order to the setting himself out.
A Minister is not to plead the King’s Command for such things as he may in justice be supposed to have directed.
It is dangerous to serve where the Master hath the Privilege not to be blamed.
It is hard for a Prince to esteem the Parts of a Minister without either envying or fearing them; and less dangerous for a Minister to shew all the Weakness than all the Strength of his Understanding.
There are so many things necessary to make up a good Minister, that no wonder there are so few of them in the World.
There is hardly a rasher thing, than for a Man to venture to be a good Minister.
A Minister of State must have a Spirit of liberal Oeconomy, not a restrained Frugality.
He must enlarge his Family-Soul, and suit it to the bigger Compass of a Kingdom.
A Prince should be asked, why he will do a thing, but not why he hath done it.
If the Boys were to choose a School-master, it should be one that would not whip them; the same thing if the Courtiers were to choose a Minister.