We judge a horse not only by its pace on a racecourse, but also by its walk, nay, when resting in its stable.

Now, since everything else is furnished with the exact amount of needle and thread required to maintain its being, it is in truth incredible that we alone should be brought into the world in a defective and indigent state, in a state such that we cannot maintain ourselves without external aid.

When I was young, beautiful ancient statues were castrated, so that the eye might not be corrupted.... Nothing was gained, unless horses and asses had also been castrated.

It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.

Presumption is our natural and original malady. The most vulnerable and frail of all creatures is man, and at the same time the most arrogant.

From Obedience and submission comes all our virtues, and all sin is comes from self-opinion.

A well-bred man is always sociable and complaisant.