The most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds is, in my opinion, conversation.

It is the mind that maketh good or ill, That maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor.

Wit is a dangerous weapon, even to the possessor, if he knows not how to use it discreetly

I find I am much prouder of the victory I obtain over myself, when, in the very ardor of dispute, I make myself submit to my adversary’s force of reason, than I am pleased with the victory I obtain over him through his weakness.

Though the ancient poet in Plutarch tells us we must not trouble the gods with our affairs because they take no heed of our angers and disputes, we can never enough decry the disorderly sallies of our minds.

'Tis the sharpness of our mind that gives the edge to our pains and pleasures.