198 Quotes by William Godwin

A celebrated north country apostle, who, after Calvin had damned ninety-nine in a hundred of mankind, had contrived a scheme for damning ninety-nine in a hundred of the followers of Calvin.

The virtue of a human being is the application of his capacity to the general good.

The most desirable mode of education, is that which is careful that all the acquisitions of the pupil shall be preceded and accompanied by desire . . . The boy, like the man, studies because he desires it. He proceeds upon a plan of is own invention, or by which, by adopting, he has made his own. Everything bespeaks independence and inequality.

Of Belief Human mathematics, so to speak, like the length of life, are subject to the doctrine of chances.

Self-respect to be nourished in the mind of the pupil, is one of the most valuable results of a well conducted education.

Books gratify and excite our curiosity in innumerable ways.

Books are the depositary of everything that is most honourable to man.

My mind was bursting with depression and anguish. I muttered imprecations and murmuring as I passed along. I was full of loathing and abhorrence of life, and all that life carries in its train.

Government can have no more than two legitimate purposes - the suppression of injustice against individuals within the community, and the common defense against external invasion.