A Vulgar Mechanick can practice what he has been taught or seen done, but if he is in an error he knows not how to find it out and correct it, and if you put him out of his road he is at a stand. Whereas he that is able to reason nimbly and judiciously about figure, force, and motion, is never at rest till he gets over every rub. (from a letter dated 25 May, 1694)

I am ashamed to tell you to how many figures I carried these calculations [of Pi], having no other business at the time

Pictures, propagated by motion along the fibers of the optic nerves in the brain, are the cause of vision.

Atheism is so senseless. When I look at the solar system, I see the earth at the right distance from the sun to receive the proper amounts of heat and light. This did not happen by chance.

To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me

Because of Diamond, I have had to begin much of the work afresh. I will not, however, rid myself of her, nor even punish her. She knew not what she was doing, and that which she did was for my protection and for love of my person. Her place remains at my side or against my feet when I lie abed.

Oh Diamond! Diamond! thou little knowest the mischief done! [Apocryphal]