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“Father Abraham’s Sermon,”
famous letter of Hutchinson and Oliver.
Pilgrim’s Progress,
John Bunyan’s
R. Burton’s Hi...
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polemic divinity,
Plutarch’s Lives
A question was once, somehow or other, started between Collins and me, of the propriety of educating the female sex in learning, and their abilities for study. He was of opinion that it was improper, and that they were naturally unequal to it.
the Spectator.
If you wish information and improvement from the knowledge of others, and yet at the same time express yourself as firmly fixed in your present opinions, modest, sensible men, who do not love disputation, will probably leave you undisturbed in the possession of your error.
A man being sometimes more generous when he has but a little money than when he has plenty, perhaps through fear of being thought to have but little.
They wondered to see, from this and several instances, that the Water-American, as they called me, was stronger than themselves, who drank strong beer! We
My mind having been much more improved by reading than Keimer’s, I suppose it was for that reason my conversation seemed to be more valued.
School and other education constantly proceed upon false principles, and show a clumsy apparatus pointed at a false mark; but your apparatus is simple, and the mark a true one;
and the wisest man will receive lights and improve his progress, by seeing detailed the conduct of another wise man.
“Seest thou a man diligent in his calling, he shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men,”
“He that would thrive, must ask his wife.”
Temperance,
thirteen names of virtues
that a perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a few faults in himself, to keep his friends in countenance.
denied myself the pleasure of contradicting him abruptly, and of showing immediately some absurdity in his proposition; and in answering I began by observing that in certain cases or circumstances his opinion would be right, but in the present case there appeared or seemed to me some difference, etc. I soon found the advantage of this change in my manner; the conversations I engaged in went on more pleasantly.
I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan, and, cutting off all amusements or other employments that would divert his attention, makes the execution of that same plan his sole study and business.
it is hard for an empty sack to stand up-right.
though the plan was not immediately carried into execution, yet, by preparing the minds of people for the change, it paved the way for the law obtained a few years after,
like a man traveling in foggy weather, those at some distance before him on the road he sees wrapped up in the fog, as well as those behind him, and also the people in the fields on each side, but near him all appears clear, though in truth he is as much in the fog as any of them.
choosing rather to quit their power than their principle.
Human felicity is produced not so much by great pieces of good fortune that seldom happen, as by little advantages that occur every day.
“Look round the habitable world, how few Know their own good, or, knowing it, pursue!”
This gave me occasion to observe, that, when men are employed, they are best contented; for on the days they worked they were good-natured and cheerful, and, with the consciousness of having done a good day’s work, they spent the evening jollily; but on our idle days they were mutinous and quarrelsome, finding fault with their pork, the bread, etc., and in continual ill-humor,
