Thus every action must be due to one or other of seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reasoning, anger, or appetite.

Music directly imitates the passions or states of the soul...when one listens to music that imitates a certain passion, he becomes imbued withthe same passion; and if over a long time he habitually listens to music that rouses ignoble passions, his whole character will be shaped to an ignoble form.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

The more you know, the more you know you don't know.

What it lies in our power to do, it lies in our power not to do.

Wise people have an inward sense of what is beautiful, and the highest wisdom is to trust this intuition and be guided by it.

Nature does nothing in vain. Therefore, it is imperative for persons to act in accordance with their nature and develop their latent talents, in order to be content and complete.