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John Selden Quotes

1584–1654 England

John Selden (December 16, 1584 - November 30, 1654) was an English jurist, legal antiquary and oriental scholar.

England
Non-fiction authors

Also known as: Selden, John

Random John Selden quote

36 quotes

No man is the wiser for his Learning * * * Wit and Wisdom are born with a man.

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 refute him.

Table Talk (1689)

Scrutamini scripturas (Let us look at the scriptures). These two words have undone the world.

Table Talk (1689)

Of all actions of a man's life his marriage does least concern other people, yet of all actions of our life 'tis most meddled with by other people.

Table Talk (1689)

Never tell your resolution beforehand.

Table Talk (1689)

Philosophy is nothing but discretion.

Table Talk (1689)

Old friends are best. King James us'd to call for his Old Shoes, they were easiest for his Feet.

Friends (1725)

The law against witches does not prove there be any; but it punishes the malice of those people that use such means to take away men's lives.

Table Talk (1689)

Marriage is a desperate thing.

Table Talk (1689)

Wit and wisdom are born with a man.

Table Talk (1689)

The House of Commons is called the Lower House, in twenty Acts of Parliament; but what are twenty Acts of Parliament amongst Friends?

Table Talk (1689)

No man is the wiser for his learning.

Table Talk (1689)

Never king dropped out of the clouds.

Table Talk (1689)

There is Humilitas quaedam in Vitio [humility taken to a fault]. If a Man does not take notice of that excellency and perfection that is in himself, how can he be thankful to God, who is the Author of all excellency and perfection?

The Pope sends for him … and (says he) "We will be merry as we were before, for thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the whole world."

'Tis 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. 'Tis the same thing in the Chancellor's Conscience.

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: John Selden (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.