My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.

In his commerce with men I mean him to include- and that principally- those who live only in the memory of books. By means of history he will frequent those great souls of former years. If you want it to be so, history can be a waste of time; it can also be, if you want it to be so, a study bearing fruit beyond price.

Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our due, as she employs it favorably and well in artificially disguising and tricking out the ills of life to alleviate the sense of them.

Nor is it enough to toughen up his soul; you must also toughen up his muscles.

'Tis the sharpness of our mind that gives the edge to our pains and pleasures.

Necessity reconciles and brings men together; and this accidental connection afterward forms itself into laws.

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