It is the nurse that the child first hears, and her words that he will first attempt to imitate.

We must form our minds by reading deep rather than wide.

Men of quality are in the wrong to undervalue, as they often do, the practise of a fair and quick hand in writing; for it is no immaterial accomplishment.

Minds that are stupid and incapable of science are in the order of nature to be regarded as monsters and other extraordinary phenomena; minds of this sort are rare. Hence I conclude that there are great resources to be found in children, which are suffered to vanish with their years. It is evident, therefore, that it is not of nature, but of our own negligence, we ought to complain.

A Woman who is generous with her money is to be praised; not so, if she is generous with her person

Forbidden pleasures alone are loved immoderately; when lawful, they do not excite desire.

One should aim not at being possible to understand, but at being impossible to misunderstand.