Cotton Mather

“Address yourself to the task of keeping a journal.”

“It were better that ten suspected witches should escape than that one innocent person should be condemned.”

“Religion brought forth prosperity, and the daughter devoured the mother.”

“Our opportunities to do good are our talents.”

“For a man to be proud of his learning is the greatest ignorance.”

“The New Englanders are a people of God settled in those, which were once the devil's territories.”

“History is the story of events, with praise or blame.”

“The doing of good is the most reasonable and the most profitable employment in the world.”

“Let us look upon affliction as a fire, and let the vehement heat of it burn our impurities, but not our persons.”

“A library is a paradise.”

“Every Christian is a priest, not offering a sacrifice for sins, but offering a sacrifice of praise.”

“The first step to finding out consists in letting people know that you are not wanting a laugh from them.”