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Complaints
“It is cruelty to require of us so composed a bearing. If we play a good game, it is a small matter that we make a bad face. If the body finds relief in complaining, let it do so.” II.37 “Of the resemblance of children to fathers” (p. 699)
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Plain French
“So do not consider those moist eyes and that piteous voice; consider that bearing, that coloring, and the plumpness of those cheeks under those great veils: it is by those that she speaks plain French.” II.35, “Of three good women” (p. 683)
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Capable, even in ignorance
“If a man is commonplace in conversation and rare in writing, that means that his capacity is in the place from which he borrows it, and not in himself. A learned man is not learned in all matters; but the capable man is capable in all matters, even in ignorance.” III.2 “Of repentance” (p. 741)
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I cannot keep my subject still
“I cannot keep my subject still. It goes along befuddled and staggering, with a natural drunkenness . . . If my mind could gain a firm footing, I would not make essays, I would make decisions[.]” III.2 “Of Repentance” (p. 740)
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Life is full of fireworks
““Life is full of fireworks; death, of love and courtesy.” II.35 “Of three good women” (p 683)
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Bundle of disparate pieces
“This bundle of so many disparate pieces is being composed in this manner: I set my hand to it only when pressed by too unnerving an idleness, and nowhere but at home.” II.31 Of the resemblance of children to fathers (p.696)
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Surpass even miracles in obscurity
We have no need to go picking out miracles and remote difficulties; it seems to me that among the things we see ordinarily there are wonders so incomprehensible that they surpass even miracles in obscurity. II. 37 “Of the resemblance of children to fathers” (p. 619)
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Subtle Humility
“There is a certain type of subtle humility that is born of presumption, like this one: that we acknowledge our ignorance in many things, and are so courteous as to admit that there are in the works of nature certain qualities and conditions that are imperceptible to us and whose means and causes our capacity…
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“Let us follow along, in God’s name”
“Let us follow along, in God’s name, let us follow!” II.37 “Of the Resemblance of Children to Fathers” (p. 706)
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Honor in weeping for husbands
“If there is some honor in weeping for husbands, it belongs only to those who have smiled upon theirs; let those who have wept in his life smile in his death, outwardly as well as inwardly.” II.35 “Of three good women” (p. 683)