The State, In Choosing Men To Serve

I Was By Birth A Gentleman, Living Neither In Any Considerable Height, Nor Yet In Obscurity. I Have Been Called To Several Employments In The Nation - To Serve In Parliaments, - And ( Because I Would Not Be Over Tedious ) I Did Endeavour To Discharge The Duty Of An Honest Man In Those Services, To God, And His People's Interest, And Of The Commonwealth; Having, When Time Was, A Competent Acceptation In The Hearts Of Men, And Some Evidence Thereof.

Mr. Lely, I Desire You Would Use All Your Skill To Paint My Picture Truly Like Me, And Not Flatter Me At All; But Remark All These Roughnesses, Pimples, Warts, And Everything As You See Me, Otherwise I Will Never Pay A Farthing For It.

I Have Not The Particular Shining Bauble Or Feather In My Cap For Crowds To Gaze At Or Kneel To, But I Have Power And Resolution For Foes To Tremble At.

A Man Never Rises Higher Than When He Does Not Know Whither His Path Can Still Lead Him.

Necessity Hath No Law. Feigned Necessities, Imaginary Necessities, Are The Greatest Cozenage Men Can Put Upon The Providence Of God, And Make Pretences To Break Known Rules By.