Miscellanies upon Moral Subjects (London: Sam Keeble and Jo. Hindmarsh, 1695)
By reading a man does as it were antedate his life, and makes himself contemporary with the ages past. And this way of running up beyond one's nativity is much better than Plato's pre-existence, because here a man knows something of the state, and is the wiser for it, which he is not in the other.
"Of the Entertainment of Books", pp. 92–93.
A man may as well expect to grow stronger by always eating, as wiser by always reading. Too much over-charges nature, and turns more into disease than nourishment. 'Tis thought and digestion which makes books serviceable, and gives health and vigour to the mind.
"Of the Entertainment of Books", p. 94.
People's opinions of themselves are commonly legible in their countenances.
"Of Confidence", p. 97.
Envy […], like a cold poison, […] benumbs and stupefies. And thus conscious as it were of its own impotence, it folds its arms in despair, and sits cursing in a corner.
"Of Envy", pp. 107–108.
Everyone has a fair turn to be as great as he pleases.
"Of Envy", p. 112.
To believe a business impossible is the way to make it so. How many feasible projects have miscarried by despondency, and been strangled in the birth by a cowardly imagination?
"Against Despair", p. 121.
Knowledge is the consequence of time, and multitude of days are fittest to teach wisdom.
"Of Old Age", pp. 155–156.
A brave mind is always impregnable. True courage is the result of reasoning.
