Idleness among children, as among men, is the root of all evil, and leads to no other evil more certain than ill temper.

Of two evils, had not an author better be tedious than superficial! From an overflowing vessel you may gather more, indeed, than you want, but from an empty one you can gather nothing.

Wisdom views with an indifferent eye all finite joys, all blessings born to die.

Indeed, I have, alas! outlived almost every one of my contemporaries. One pays dear for living long.

To be good and disagreeable is high treason against the royalty of virtue.

My plan of instruction is extremely simple and limited. They learn, on week-days, such coarse works as may fit them for servants. I allow of no writing for the poor. My object is not to make fanatics, but to train up the lower classes in habits of industry and piety.

A small unkindness is a great offence.