I seek in the reading of books, only to please myself, by an honest diversion.

Man will rise, if God by exception lends him a hand; he will rise by abandoning and renouncing his own means, and letting himselfbe raised and uplifted by purely celestial means.

Silence and modesty are very valuable qualities in conversation.

A man must always study, but he must not always go to school: what a contemptible thing is an old abecedarian!

I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.

As great enmities spring from great friendships, and mortal distempers from vigorous health, so do the most surprising and the wildest frenzies from the high and lively agitations of our souls.

Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.