Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.

There is a certain consideration, and a general duty of humanity, that binds us not only to the animals, which have life and feeling, but even to the trees and plants. We owe justice to people, and kindness and benevolence to all other creatures who may be susceptible of it. There is some intercourse between them and us, and some mutual obligation.

Business in a certain sort of men is a mark of understanding, and they are honored for it. Their souls seek repose in agitation, as children do by being rocked in a cradle. They may pronounce themselves as serviceable to their friends as troublesome to themselves. No one distributes his money to others, but every one therein distributes his time and his life. There is nothing of which we are so prodigal as of those two things, of which to be thrifty would be both commendable and useful.

I enjoy books as misers enjoy treasures, because I know I can enjoy them whenever I please.

I turn my gaze inward. I fix it there and keep it busy. I look inside myself. I continually observe myself.

Glory consists of two parts: the one in setting too great a value upon ourselves, and the other in setting too little a value upon others.

In truth, knowledge is a great and very useful quality; those who despise it give evidence enough of their stupidity. Yet I do not set its value at that extreme measure that some attribute to it.