They’re thinking of turning the peasant into an educated man. Why, first of all they should make him a good and prosperous farmer and then he’ll learn all that is necessary for him to know.

Everywhere a man will be sure to meet at least once in his life something that is unlike anything he had happened to see before.

There are certain words which are nearer and dearer to a man than any others.

Let me warn you, if you start chasing after views, you’ll be left without bread and without views.

Everywhere across whatever sorrows of which our life is woven, some radiant joy will gaily flash past.

Turn round, my boy! How ridiculous you look! What sort of a priest’s cassock have you got on? Does everybody at the academy dress like that?

It’s the most righteous, which of course is not the same thing as the most profitable.

As you pass from the tender years of youth into harsh and embittered manhood, make sure you take with you on your journey all the human emotions!

The experience of ages has shown that a man who works on the land is purer, nobler, higher, and more moral… Agriculture should be at the basis of everything. That’s my idea.

The Lord grant we may all be tillers of the soil.

You can’t imagine how stupid the whole world has grown nowadays.

We ought to thank God for that. Yes, the man who tills the land is more worthy of respect than any.

Whatever you may say, the body depends on the soul.