Is it not a terrible thing to be forced by society to do things which all of us as individuals regard as abominable crimes?

I see only with deep regret that God punishes so many of His children for their numerous stupidities, for which only He Himself can be held responsible; in my opinion, only His nonexistence could excuse Him.

That is the way to learn the most, that when you are doing something with such enjoyment that you don't notice that the time passes.

The only rational way of educating is to be an example. If one can't help it, a warning example.

The sole function of education...[is] to open the way to thinking and knowing, and the school, as the outstanding organ for the people's education, must serve that end exclusively.

Any power must be an enemy of mankind which enslaves the individual by power and by force, whether it arises under the Fascist or the Communist flag. All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded to the individual.

I have lived to prove Thoreau's contention that a man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.