Man is born a barbarian, and only raises himself above the beast by culture.

There are certain inessential activities-moths of precious time-and it is worse to busy yourself with the trivial than to do nothing.

Know how to keep anticipation alive: always strive to feed it, by letting the much promise more, and the one achievement be the announcement only of a greater. Put not all your reserves into the first throw; the great trick is to dole out strength, and to dole out mind, in such a fashion as to bring forward increasingly the fulfillment of what was expected of you.

Put yourself on view. This brings your talents to light.

Hear, see, and be silent.

The heaven of the envied is hell for the envious. [...because they focus on what they don't have rather than being grateful for what they have, which is always better than some others.]

A man of honour should never forget what he is because he sees what others are.