讀書使人充實，討論使人機智，筆記使人準確。 因此不常作筆記者須記憶特強，不常討論者須天生聰穎，不常讀書者須欺世有術，始能無知而顯有知。 讀史使人明智，讀詩使人靈秀，數學使人周密，科學使人深刻，倫理學使人莊重，邏輯修辭之學使人善辯： 凡有所學，皆成性格。 人之才智但有滯礙，無不可讀適當之書使之順暢，壹如身體百病，皆可借相宜之運動除之。 滾球利睪腎，射箭利胸肺，慢步利腸胃，騎術利頭腦，諸如此類。 如智力不集中，可令讀數學，蓋演題須全神貫註，稍有分散即須重演；如不能辨異，可令讀經院哲學， 蓋是輩皆吹毛求疵之人； 如不善求同，不善以壹物闡證另壹物，可令讀律師之案卷。 如此頭腦中凡有缺陷，皆有特藥可醫。（王佐良先生譯）
原文如下：
Reading maketh a full man; conference a ready man; and writing an exact man. And therefore, if a man write little, he had need have a great memory; if he confer little, he had need have a present wit: and if he read little, he had need have much cunning, to seem to know, that he doth not. Histories make men wise; poets witty; the mathematics subtile; natural philosophy deep; moral grave; logic and rhetoric able to contend. Abeunt studia in mores. Nay, there is no stond or impediment in the wit, but may be wrought out by fit studies; like as diseases of the body, may have appropriate exercises. Bowling is good for the stone and reins; shooting for the lungs and breast; gentle walking for the stomach; riding for the head; and the like. So if a man's wit be wandering, let him study the mathematics; for in demonstrations, if his wit be called away never so little, he must begin again. If his wit be not apt to distinguish or find differences, let him study the Schoolmen; for they are cymini sectores. If he be not apt to beat over matters, and to call up one thing to prove and illustrate another, let him study the lawyers' cases. So every defect of the mind, may have a special receipt.