You have heard of, and studied various systems of philosophy; but real philosophy is opposed to all systems.

No man can see his own prejudices.

Many are called impious, not for having a worse, but a different religion from their neighbors; and many atheistical, not for the denying of God, but for thinking somewhat peculiarly concerning him.

These will vary in every human being; but knowledge is the same for every mind, and every mind may and ought to be trained to receive it.

How prone we are to come to the consideration of every question with heads and hearts pre-occupied! How prone to shrink from any opinion, however reasonable, if it be opposed to any, however unreasonable, of our own! How disposed are we to judge, in anger, those who call upon us to think, and encourage us to enquire! To question our prejudices seems nothing less than sacrilege; to break the chains of our ignorance, nothing short of impiety!

The condition of women affords in all countries the best criterion by which to judge the character of men.

To give liberty to a slave before he understands its value is, perhaps, rather to impose a penalty than to bestow a blessing.