If men were born free, they would, so long as they remained free, form no conception of good and evil.

If the way which I have pointed out as leading to this result (i.e., power over the emotions by which the wise man surpasses the ignorant man) seems exceedingly hard, it may nevertheless be discovered. Needs must it be hard, since it is so seldom found. How would it be possible, if salvation were ready to our hand, and could without great labour be found, that it should be by almost all men neglected? But all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.

Only that thing is free which exists by the necessities of its own nature, and is determined in its actions by itself alone.

He who seeks to regulate everything by law is more likely to arouse vices than to reform them. It is best to grant what cannot be abolished, even though it be in itself harmful. How many evils spring from luxury, envy, avarice, drunkenness and the like, yet these are tolerated because they cannot be prevented by legal enactments.

. . . to know the order of nature, and regard the universe as orderly is the highest function of the mind.

Desire is the essence of a man.

Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men's natural abilities as to restrain them.