“The less the mind understands and the more things it perceives, the greater its power of feigning is; and the more things it understands, the more that power is diminished.”

“Of all the things that are beyond my power, I value nothing more highly than to be allowed the honor of entering into bonds of friendship with people who sincerely love truth. For, of things beyond our power, I believe there is nothing in the world which we can love with tranquility except such men.”

“The highest activity a human being can attain is learning for understanding, because to understand is to be free.”

“The endeavor to understand is the first and only basis of virtue.”

“Do not weep. Do not wax indignant. Understand.”

“I have made a ceaseless effort not to ridicule, not to bewail, not to scorn human actions, but to understand them.”

“I have striven not to laugh at human actions, not to weep at them, nor to hate them, but to understand them.”