Education is an eminently social thing, in its origins as in its functions, and [...] pedagogy depends more closely on sociology than on any other science.
1922
There is nothing superfluous (except for the overly delicate).
1574
One can certainly offer a limited understanding a supply of rules [...], but the student must already possess the faculty to use them correctly himself.
1781
If a man [born to rule] feels compassion, well! that compassion has value! But what does the compassion of those who suffer matter!
1886
Bronze kyathos (single-handled jug)
ca. 450–400 BCE
[He] was truly one of those all-too-rare men who, by giving everything within them until nothing is left, thereby show themselves to be related to genius.
1896
This act of judging consists in seeing that the idea I have of one thing belongs to the idea I have of another.
1817
To maintain that it is the soul that grows indignant is roughly like saying that it is the soul that weaves a web [...]. It would be better to say [...] that it is the man who does all this through his soul.
384–322 BC
...it is not the storm that torments me, but the seasickness.
49 to 62 A.D.
Limestone male figure in Egyptian dress
mid-6th century BCE
The decisive test of a heroic heart is when it is free to take revenge on an enemy at will.
1636
Have you thoroughly examined any of their thoughts, and have you formed your own conviction on the matter?
c. 108 AD
Diagoras the Atheist. [...] the Athenians put a price on his head.
45 BC
However, until now, no one had yet attempted to do the same for Theology.
1768
Wall painting: frieze supporting trellis, from the imperial villa at Boscotrecase
last decade of the 1st century BCE
Man cannot take himself as his own goal. If he tries, he falls into the search for immediate pleasure, indifference, boredom. He needs a goal outside of himself.
1957
Faith is the step that must be taken to arrive at understanding, which is the fruit of faith.
1263-1264
The less an artist thinks of himself, the more he thinks of his workers.
1741-1784
The traveler's jolt introduces no asymmetry. [...] it resolves into perfectly reciprocal manifestations involving the invariable systems.
1922
Bronze handle from a cista (toiletry box)
4th century BCE
Between a crude life and a soft life, I would like to distinguish a simple life, and to define its idea, if possible, with some precision.
1776
Instead of the apotheosis of Reason, we have made another of Instinct; and we call everything instinct which we cannot establish on a rational basis.
1869
This force [...] is itself without cause, and consequently inexplicable.
1620
A truth is always the result of just comparisons of the resemblances and differences [...] perceived between various objects.
1772
Part of the left foot of a colossal marble statue
3rd–2nd century BCE
As soon as the mind wants to go beyond the ideas of sensation and reflection to penetrate their causes, this inquiry only serves to make us feel how short our lights are.
1689
Universal Providence consists in the universe being in conformity with Intelligence, and Intelligence being anterior to the universe, [...] not in time, [...] but because Intelligence precedes by its nature the world which proceeds from it.
c. 253-270 AD
[A] reputation rests simply on the opinion of others, which is extremely easy to erase.
1513-1519
Away with this insane and impossible contempt for all sensible things, for all external objects! This is not how nature speaks; I recognize no other language here than that of pride.
1742
Limestone hand holding a pyxis and a branch of leaves
3rd–1st century BCE
He carried in his head an infinite number of projects; he would recite entire books of which not a single line was written.
1926
My tears soak everything, my hand trembles, my eyes grow dim, I am dying.
1772
The beginning is the most important part of the work.
c. 375 BC
One must clearly distinguish the strength and beauty of words from the strength and evidence of reasons.
1674-1675
Marble statue of a kouros (youth)
ca. 590–580 BCE
If two individuals were perfectly similar [...] and indistinguishable in themselves, there would be no principle of individuation; and I would even dare to say that there would be no individual distinction [...] under this condition.
1704
To ask God why he did not give Adam a more perfect will is as absurd as asking why he did not give the circle the properties of a sphere.
1661-1676
Natural reason [...] teaches us [...] that we should not leave the certain for the uncertain.
1643-1649
I have no other advantage over you than that of having meditated on it much more; but that is a small thing in your regard, since your first insights are more penetrating than the length of my efforts.
1643-1662
Still Life with Roses and Fruit
1863
Whatever the duties with which he was entrusted, the humblest as well as the most exalted, he brought to them the same love of good, the same zeal, an unfailing devotion.
100-120 AD
Doctors say that the thumbs are the master fingers of the hand [...].
1580
The true foundation of all morality: 'Harm no one; on the contrary, help everyone as much as you can.'
1840
Servitude [...] debases men [...] to the point of making itself loved.
1746
Saint Nicholas of Bari
mid-1430s
Supreme goodness [...] consists in not loving. [...] Supreme goodness is abstract, global, undifferentiated benevolence, which is not contrary to concrete benevolence [...].
4th century BC
There is only one way to speak well at the rostrum, and that is to be thoroughly convinced, as you ascend it, that you are cleverer than everyone else.
1893
When one of these associations is so large as to prevail over all the rest, [...] there is no longer a general will, and the opinion which prevails is only a particular opinion.
1762
The entire social-democratic press rose as one man to recommend to the people [...] a 'majestic calm,' passivity, and confidence in their representatives.
1850
Steatite (?) pendant in the form of a bull's head
ca. 2200–1050 BCE