But as Nature is the best guide, teaching must be the development of natural inclinations, for which purpose the teacher must watch his pupil and listen to him, not continually bawl words into his ears as if pouring water into a funnel. Good teaching will come from a mind well made rather than well filled.

In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only like doing him good better than having him do me good, but also would rather have him do good to himself than to me; he does me most good when he does himself good.

Is it not enough to make me come back to life out of spite, to have someone who spat in my face while I existed come and rub my feet when I am beginning to exist no longer?

The world is but a school of inquisition; it is not who shall enter the ring, but who shall run the best courses.

When all is summed up, a man never speaks of himself without loss; his accusations of himself are always believed; his praises never.

There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.

We every day and every hour say things of another that we might more properly say of ourselves, could we but apply our observations to our own concerns.