All the entertainment and talk of history is nothing almost but fighting and killing: and the honour and renown that is bestowed on conquerors (who for the most part are but the great butchers of mankind) farther mislead growing youth, who by this means come to think slaughter the laudable business of mankind, and the most heroic of virtues.

The Church which taught men not to keep faith with heretics, had no claim to toleration.

Curiosity should be as carefully cherish'd in children, as other appetites suppress'd.

Error is none the better for being common, nor truth the worse for having lain neglected.

To give a man full knowledge of morality, I would send him to no other book than the New Testament.

Beating is the worst, and therefore the last means to be us'd in the correction of children, and that only in the cases of extremity, after all gently ways have been try'd, and proved unsuccessful; which, if well observ'd, there will very seldom be any need of blows.

I attribute the little I know to my not having been ashamed to ask for information, and to my rule of conversing with all descriptions of men on those topics that form their own peculiar professions and pursuits.