An untempted woman cannot boast of her chastity.

I have never known a greater miracle, or monster, than myself.

We cannot do without it, and yet we disgrace and vilify the same. It may be compared to a cage, the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair to get out.

Truly it is reasonable to make a great distinction between the faults that come from our weakness and those that come from our wickedness.

I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.

Men do not know the natural infirmity of their mind: it does nothing but ferret and quest, and keeps incessantly whirling around, building up and becoming entangled in its own work, like silkworms, and is suffocated in it. A mouse in a pitch barrel...thinks it notices from a distance some sort of glimmer of imaginary light and truth; but while running toward it, it is crossed by so many difficulties and obstacles, and diverted by so many new quests, that it strays from the road, bewildered.

I do not teach. I relate.