Among the liberal arts, let us begin with the art that liberates us.

The great and glorious masterpiece of humanity is to know how to live with a purpose.

If these Essays were worthy of being judged, it might fall out, in my opinion, that they would not find much favour, either with common and vulgar minds, or with uncommon and eminent ones: the former would not find enough in them, the latter would find too much; they might manage to live somewhere in the middle region.

The world always looks straights ahead; as for me, I turn my gaze inward, I fix it there and keep it busy. Everyone looks in front of him: as for me, I look inside me: I have no business but with myself; I continually observe myself, I take stock of myself, I taste myself. Others...they always go forward; as for me, I roll about in myself.

The most profound joy has more of gravity than of gaiety in it.

Pleasure itself is painful at the bottom.

In the education of children there is nothing like alluring the interest and affection; otherwise you only make so many asses laden with books.