Since philosophy is the art which teaches us how to live, and since children need to learn it as much as we do at other ages, why do we not instruct them in it? .. But in truth I know nothing about the philosophy of education except this: that the greatest and the most important difficulty known to human learning seems to lie in that area which treats how to bring up children and how to educate them.

Nature is a gentle guide, but not more sweet and gentle than prudent and just.

Everything must not always be said, for that would be folly.

A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance, if that can be called affection.

In his commerce with men I mean him to include- and that principally- those who live only in the memory of books. By means of history he will frequent those great souls of former years. If you want it to be so, history can be a waste of time; it can also be, if you want it to be so, a study bearing fruit beyond price.

The confidence in another man's virtue is no light evidence of a man's own, and God willingly favors such a confidence.

To die is not to play a part in society; it is the act of a single person. Let us live and laugh among our friends; let us die and sulk among strangers.