Mental Discernment Quotes

If I read a book that impresses me, I have to take myself firmly by the hand, before I mix with other people; otherwise they would think my mind rather queer.

I have often thought if the minds of men were laid open, we should see but little difference between that of the wise man and that of the fool. There are infinite reveries, numberless extravagances, and a perpetual train of vanities which pass through both. The great difference is, that the first knows how to pick and cull his thoughts for conversation, by suppressing some, and communicating others; whereas the other lets them all indifferently fly out in words.

I do not distinguish by the eye, but by the mind, which is the proper judge of the man.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.

Large skepticism leads to large understanding. Small skepticism leads to small understanding. No skepticism leads to no understanding.

Without subtle ingenuity of mind, one cannot make certain of the truth of their reports.

The intelligence of few perceives what has been carefully hidden in the recesses of the mind.

So long as I confine my thoughts to my own ideas divested of words, I do not see how I can be easily mistaken.

The eyes are not responsible when the mind does the seeing.

You're picky about the car you drive. You're picky about what you wear. You're picky about what you put in your mouth. We want you to be pickier about what you think.

If others examined themselves attentively, as I do, they would find themselves, as I do, full of inanity and nonsense..

The true knowledge or science which exists nowhere but in the mind itself, has no other entity at all besides intelligibility; and therefore whatsoever is clearly intelligible, is absolutely true.

Little minds mistake little objects for great ones, and lavish away upon the former that time and attention which only the latterdeserve. To such mistakes we owe the numerous and frivolous tribe of insect-mongers, shell-mongers, and pursuers and driers of butterflies, etc. The strong mind distinguishes, not only between the useful and the useless, but likewise between the useful and the curious.

When we look at external things, we can usually distinguish those that are useful and valuable from those that are not. We must learn to look at our mind in the same way.

When the mind withdraws into itself and dispenses with facts it makes only chaos.