The business of education is not to make the young perfect in any one of the sciences, but so to open and dispose their minds as may best make them – capable of any, when they shall apply themselves to it.
Earthly minds, like mud walls, resist the strongest batteries; and though, perhaps, sometimes the force of a clear argument may make some impression, yet they nevertheless stand firm, keep out the enemy, truth, that would captivate or disturbe them.
The thoughts that come often unsought, and, as it were, drop into the mind, are commonly the most valuable of any we have.
The least and most imperceptible impressions received in our infancy have consequences very important and of long duration.
Justice and truth are the common ties of society.
This is my destiny – I’m supposed to do this, dammit! Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do!
Words, in their primary or immediate signification, stand for nothing but the ideas in the mind of him who uses them.
Nothing is in the intellect that was not first in the senses.
Practice conquers the habit of doing, without reflecting on the rule.
If punishment reaches not the mind and makes not the will supple, it hardens the offender.
He that will make good use of any part of his life must allow a large part of it to recreation.
Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others.
I thought that I had no time for faith nor time to pray, then I saw an armless man saying his Rosary with his feet.
Till a man can judge whether they be truths or not, his understanding is but little improved, and thus men of much reading, though greatly learned, but may be little knowing.
He that judges without informing himself to the utmost that he is capable, cannot acquit himself of judging amiss.
Habits wear more constantly and with greatest force than reason, which, when we have most need of it, is seldom fairly consulted, and more rarely obeyed.
To ask at what time a man has first any ideas is to ask when he begins to perceive; having ideas and perception being the same thing.
Virtue is everywhere that which is thought praiseworthy; and nothing else but that which has the allowance of public esteem is called virtue.
If we will disbelieve everything, because we cannot certainly know all things, we shall do much what as wisely as he who would not use his legs, but sit still and perish, because he had no wings to fly.
He that makes use of another’s fancy or necessity to sell ribbons or cloth dearer to him than to another man at the same time, cheats him.