And in this, Sir, I am of so nice and singular a humour, that if I thought you was able to form the least judgment or probable conjecture to yourself, of what was to come in the next page, - I would tear it out of my book.

One may as well be asleep as to read for anything but to improve his mind and morals, and regulate his conduct.

The most accomplished way of using books is to serve them as some people do lords; learn their titles and then brag of their acquaintance.

I often derive a peculiar satisfaction in conversing with the ancient and modern dead, — who yet live and speak excellently in their works. My neighbors think me often alone, — and yet at such times I am in company with more than five hundred mutes — each of whom, at my pleasure, communicates his ideas to me by dumb signs — quite as intelligently as any person living can do by uttering of words.

Shall we for ever make new books, as apothecaries make new mixtures, by pouring only out of one vessel into another?

I am positive I have a soul; nor can all the books with which materialists have pestered the world ever convince me to the contrary.