Francis Bacon

Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider.

They are ill discoverers that think there is no land, when they can see nothing but sea.

Age appears to be best in four things: old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.

Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority.