I love and honour [Paulus Aemilius, in Plutarch's Lives], for his fondness for his children, which instead of blushing at, he avows and glories in: and that at an age, when almost all the heros and great men thought that to make their children and family a secondary concern, was the first proof of their superiority and greatness of soul.

Never shall I recollect the occasion he gave me of displeasure, without feeling it renewed.

... it's vastly more irksome to give up one's own way, than to hear a few impertinent remarks.

A youthful mind is seldom totally free from ambition; to curb that, is the first step to contentment, since to diminish expectation is to increase enjoyment.

To save the mind from preying inwardly upon itself, it must be encouraged to some outward pursuit. There is no other way to elude apathy, or escape discontent; none other to guard the temper from that quarrel with itself, which ultimately ends in quarreling with all mankind.

Travelling is the ruin of all happiness. There's no looking at a building here after seeing Italy.

such is the effect of true politeness, that it banishes all restraint and embarassment.