"The more we reduce ourselves to machines in the lower things, the more force we shall set free to use in the higher."

"Do not seek for information of which you cannot make use."

"All real freedom springs from necessity, for it can be gained only through the exercise of the individual will, and that will can be roused to energetic action only by the force of necessity acting upon it from the outside to spur it to effort."

"He who receives a great many letters demanding answer, sees himself as if engaged in a hopeless struggle of one man against the rest of the world."

"We go on multiplying our conveniences only to multiply our cares. We increase our possessions only to the enlargement of our anxieties."