Prefer knowledge to wealth, for the one is transitory, the other perpetual.

The slenderest knowledge that may be obtained of the highest things is more desirable than the most certain knowledge obtained of lesser things.

The best dividends on labor invested have invariably come from seeking more knowledge rather than more power.

I would rather be able to appreciate things I cannot have than to have things I am not able to appreciate.

... I prefer true but imperfect knowledge, even if it leaves much undetermined and unpredictable, to a pretense of exact knowledge that is likely to be false.

The intellectual love of a thing consists in understanding its perfections.

There is nothing so minute or inconsiderable that I would not rather know it than not know it.

I esteem my colleagues as I do my own self, I esteem them for two things: because they are able to find perfect felicity in specialized knowledge and because they are not apt to commit physical murder.

In truth, knowledge is a great and very useful quality; those who despise it give evidence enough of their stupidity. Yet I do not set its value at that extreme measure that some attribute to it, such as the philosopher Herillus, who find in it the sovereign good and think it has the power to make us wise and happy.

I'd take the awe of understanding over the awe of ignorance any day.

Excellence can be obtained if you ... care more than others think is wise; ... risk more than others think is safe; . . . dream more than others think is practical; ... expect more than others think is possible.

My third maxim was to try always to master myself rather than fortune and change my desires rather than changing how things stand in the world.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Is it not indeed a pleasure to acquire knowledge and constantly to exercise oneself therein?