I undertake the same project as Montaigne, but with an aim contrary to his own: for he wrote his Essays only for others, and I write my reveries only for myself.

Do you not know...that a child badly taught is farther from being wise than one not taught at all?

Although modesty is natural to man, it is not natural to children. Modesty only begins with the knowledge of evil.

We cannot teach children the danger of telling lies to men without realising, on the man's part, the danger of telling lies to children. A single untruth on the part of the master will destroy the results of his education.

A person who can break wind is not dead.

If there wasn't a God we would have to invent one to keep people sane.

As soon as any man says of the affairs of the State "What does it matter to me?" the State may be given up for lost.