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.

We should be similarly wary of accepting common opinions; we should judge them by the ways of reason not by popular vote.

I may indeed very well happen to contradict myself; but truth, as Demades said, I do not contradict.

Like the watermen who advance forward while they look backward.

Every man carries the entire form of human condition.

The ceaseless labour of your life is to build the house of death.

No-one is exempt from speaking nonsense – the only misfortune is to do it solemnly.