After experience had taught me that all the usual surroundings of social life are vain and futile; seeing that none of the objects of my fears contained in themselves anything either good or bad, except in so far as the mind is affected by them, I finally resolved to inquire whether there might be some real good having power to communicate itself, which would affect the mind singly, to the exclusion of all else: whether, in fact, there might be anything of which the discovery and attainment would enable me to enjoy continuous, supreme, and unending happiness.

Whatsoever is, is in God.

He that can carp in the most eloquent or acute manner at the weakness of the human mind is held by his fellows as almost divine.

Nothing in nature is by chance... Something appears to be chance only because of our lack of knowledge.

We strive to further the occurrence of whatever we imagine will lead to Joy, and to avert or destroy what we imagine is contrary to it, or will lead to Sadness.

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

Nature is satisfied with little; and if she is, I am also.