A person is bound to lose when he talks about himself; if he belittles himself, he is believed; if he praises himself, he isn't believed.

When I am attached by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.

In the examples that I here bring in of what I have [read], heard, done or said, I have refrained from daring to alter even the smallest and most indifferent circumstances. My conscience falsifies not an iota; for my knowledge I cannot answer.

Desire and hope will push us on toward the future.

All opinions in the world agree in this, that pleasure is our end, although they differ as to the means of attaining it.

For among other things he had been counseled to bring me to love knowledge and duty by my own choice, without forcing my will, and to educate my soul entirely through gentleness and freedom.

Natural inclinations are assisted and reinforced by education, but they are hardly ever altered or overcome.