We deceive and flatter no one by such delicate artificies as we do our own selves.

A happy life is impos­si­ble; the best that a man can attain is a heroic life.

A man shows his character just in the way in which he deals with trifles, for then he is off his guard.

Students and scholars of all kinds and of every age aim, as a rule, only at information, not insight. They make it a point of honour to have information about everything, every stone, plant, battle, or experiment and about all books, collectively and individually. It never occurs to them that information is merely a means to insight, but in itself is of little or no value.

Reason deserves to be called a prophet; for in showing us the consequence and effect of our actions in the present, does it not tell us what the future will be?

Thus also every keen pleasure is an error and an illusion, for no attained wish can give lasting satisfaction.

To form a judgment intuitively is the privilege of few; authority and example lead the rest of the world. They see with the eyes of others, they hear with the ears of others. Therefore it is very easy to think as all the world now think; but to think as all the world will think thirty years hence is not in the power of every one.