I never met a man who thought his thinking was faulty.

We perceive no charms that are not sharpened, puffed out, and inflated by artifice. Those which glide along naturally and simply easily escape a sight so gross as ours.

Whatever is enforced by command is more imputed to him who exacts than to him who performs.

As for our pupils talk, let his virtue and his sense of right and wrong shine through it and have no guide but reason. Make him understand that confessing an error which he discovers in his own argument even when he alone has noticed it is an act of justice and integrity, which are the main qualities he pursues; stubbornness and rancour are vulgar qualities, visible in common souls whereas to think again, to change one's mind and to give up a bad case on the heat of the argument are rare qualities showing strength and wisdom.

He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.

The memory represents to us not what we choose but what it pleases.

I speak the truth, not my fill of it, but as much as I dare speak; and I dare to do so a little more as I grow old.