“This is one of those views which are so absurd that only very learned men could possibly adopt them”

“I have written this work not to teach men what they do not know, but to remind them of what they already know and is very evident to them, for you will find in most of my words only things which most people know, and concerning which they entertain no doubts. But to the extent that they are well known and their truths revealed to all, so is forgetfulness in relation to them extremely prevalent. … It is possible that the reader will find that he has learned little after having read it that he did not know before. Its benefit is to be derived, rather, through review and persistent study, by which one is reminded of those things which, by nature, he is prone to forget and through which he is caused to take to heart the duty that he tends to overlook.”

“It is easier to make people appear equally stupid than to make them equally clever, so teaching methods are adopted which make it practically impossible for anyone to learn anything.”

“Men are disturbed not by things, but by the view which they take of them.”

“A [learning] style is a disposition to adopt one class of learning strategy.”

“We are, even now, killing ourselves over ancient literature. Who would have thought something so tragically absurd could be possible?”

“One is ashamed to say how little is needed for all men to be delivered from those calamities which now oppress them; it is only needful not to lie.”

“One is more certain to influence men, to produce more effect on them, by absurdities than by sensible ideas.”

“The radical invents the views. When he has worn them out the conservative adopts them.”

“This instinctive repulsion which tradespeople inspire in men of sensitive feeling is one of the very rare consolations for being so impoverished which are given to those of us who don’t sell anything to anybody.”