He who cannot withal keep his mind to himself cannot practice any considerable thing whatsoever.

I came hither [Craigenputtoch] solely with the design to simplify my way of life and to secure the independence through which I could be enabled to remain true to myself.

Life is a series of lessons that have to be understood.

Is not cant the materia prima of the devil, from which all falsehoods, imbecilities, abominations, body themselves, from which no true thing can come? For cant is itself the properly a double-distilled lie, the second power of a lie.

Intellect is the soul of man, the only immortal part of him.

Perfect ignorance is quiet, perfect knowledge is quiet; not so the transition from the former to the latter.

Not brute force but only persuasion and faith are the kings of this world.