A strong and well-constituted man digests his experiences (deeds and misdeeds all included) just as he digests his meats, even when he has some tough morsels to swallow.

Character is determined more by the lack of certain experiences than by those one has had.

Ultimately, nobody can get more out of things, including books that he already knows. For what one lacks access to from experience one will have no ear.

A man far oftener appears to have a decided character from persistently following his temperament than from persistently following his principles.

Great intellects are skeptical

Whoever is related to me in the height of his aspirations will experience veritable ecstasies of learning; for I come from heights that no bird ever reached in its flight, I know abysses into which no foot ever strayed.