To furnish the means of acquiring knowledge is the greatest benefit that can be conferred upon mankind. It prolongs life itself and enlarges the sphere of human existence.

No one can draw more out of things, books included, than he already knows. A man has no ears for that to which experience has given him no access.

The good life is one inspired by love and guided by knowledge.

As the traveler who has once been from home is wiser than he who has never left his own doorstep, so a knowledge of one other culture should sharpen our ability to scrutinize more steadily, to appreciate more lovingly, our own.

There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.

He who has so little knowledge of human natures as to seek happiness by changing anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts.

I keep six honest serving men (they taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When And How and Where and Who.

Knowledge rests not upon truth alone, but upon error also.

There is nothing so absurd or ridiculous that has not at some time been said by some philosopher.