He had little respect for the professors of his time, telling a friend in 1735 that "there is nothing to be learnt from a Professor, which is not to be met with in Books".
Õppejõudude vastu oli tal vähe austust: aastal 1735 kirjutas ta sõbrale, et professorilt pole midagi õppida, mida ei leiaks raamatutest.