John Selden

Who was John Selden?

John Selden was an English jurist and a scholar of England's ancient laws and constitution and scholar of Jewish law. He was known as a polymath showing true intellectual depth and breadth; John Milton hailed Selden in 1644 as "the chief of learned men reputed in this land."

Famous Quotes:

• It's not the drinking to be blamed, but the excess.
• Pleasure is nothing else but the intermission of pain.
• Philosophy is nothing but discretion.
• 'Tis not seasonable to call a man traitor, that has an army at his heels.
• A king is a thing men have made for their own sakes, for quietness sake. Just as in a family one man is appointed to buy the meat.
• In quoting of books, quote such authors as are usually read; others you may read for your own satisfaction, but not name them.
• They that are against superstition oftentimes run into it of the wrong side. If I wear all colors but black, then I am superstitious in not wearing black.
• He that has not religion to govern his morality, is not a dram better than my mastiff-dog; so long as you stroke him, and please him, and do not pinch him, he will play with you as finely as may be, he is a very good moral mastiff; but if you hurt him, he will fly in your face, and tear out your throat.
• A glorious Church is like a magnificent feast; there is all the variety that may be, but every one chooses out a dish or two that he likes, and lets the rest alone: how glorious soever the Church is, every one chooses out of it his own religion, by which he governs himself, and lets the rest alone.
• Pleasures are all alike simply considered in themselves: he that hunts, or he that governs the commonwealth, they both please themselves alike, only we commend that, whereby we ourselves receive some benefit.