Some are satisfied to stand politely before the portals of Fortune and to await her bidding; better those who push forward, who employ their enterprise, who on the wings of their worth and valor seek to embrace luck, and to effectively gain her favor.

When you counsel someone, you should appear to be reminding him of something he had forgotten, not of the light he was unable to see.

Folly consists not in committing Folly, but in being incapable of concealing it. All men make mistakes, but the wise conceal the blunders they have made, while fools make them public. Reputation depends more on what is hidden than on what is seen. If you can’t be good, be careful.

It is a great misfortune to be of use to nobody; scarcely less to be of use to everybody.

Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way.

The more merit, the less affection.

Keep expectation alive. Keep stirring it up. Let much promise more, and great deeds herald greater.