“The mind is exercised by the variety and multiplicity of the subject matter, while the character is moulded by the contemplation of virtue and vice.”

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

Suffering itself does less afflict the senses than the apprehension of suffering.

By writing quickly we are not brought to write well, but by writing well we are brought to write quickly.

Although virtue receives some of its excellencies from nature, yet it is perfected by education.

The pretended admission of a fault on our part creates an excellent impression.

A liar ought to have a good memory.

Verse satire indeed is entirely our own.

It is easier to do many things than to do one thing continuously for a long time.

Nature herself has never attempted to effect great changes rapidly.

For the mind is all the easier to teach before it is set.

That which offends the ear will not easily gain admission to the mind.

In a crowd, on a journey, at a banquet even, a line of thought can itself provide its own seclusion.

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

Nothing is more dangerous to men than a sudden change of fortune.

Study depends on the goodwill of the student, a quality that cannot be secured by compulsion.

Virtue, though she gets her beginning from nature, yet receives her finishing touches from learning.

Even the structure of the atom has been found by the mind. Therefore the mind is subtler than the atom. That which is behind the mind, namely the individual soul, is subtler than the mind.

He who has learned to do nothing with his whole mind and body will have everything done for him.

If we opened our minds to enjoyment, we might find tranquil pleasures spread about us on every side. We might live with the angels that visit us on every sunbeam, and sit with the fairies who wait on every flower.

Without seeing the origin of light, the true form of one’s Self, the ordinary man sees by the mind different things and is deluded.

The ultimate secret of success is this: If you tidy up in one shot, rather than little by little, you can dramatically change your mindset.

Tidying orders and relaxes the mind.

The tiniest bits of opinion sown in the minds of children in private life afterwards issue forth to the world, and become its public opinion; for nations are gathered out of nurseries.

Meditation helps concentration of the mind. Then the mind is free from thoughts and is in the meditated form.