He did not take the way that is generally used, merely to burden the minds of his children during their education. He taught them to think and also allow the light of intellect to warm their hearts to virtue and the fear of God.

Autobiography, 1780.

Violence creates violence

One teacher brings up free, intelligent, virtuous and obedient people in his school without the use of the cane, while another starts with beatings and finishes with beatings and leaves behind stupid and slavish people with treacherous intent.

Response to a price query from the Royal Economic Society concerning assistance to Finnish agriculture, 1799.