Nothing comes to pass in nature, which can be set down to a flaw therein; for nature is always the same, and everywhere one and the same in her efficacy and power of action: that is, nature's laws and ordinances, whereby all things come to pass and change from one form to another, are everywhere and always the same; so that there should be one and the same method of understanding the nature of all things whatsoever, namely, through nature's universal laws and rules.

Happiness is a virtue, not its reward.

In so far as the mind sees things in their eternal aspect, it participates in eternity.

self-preservation is the primary and only foundation of virtue.

Everything excellent is as difficult as it is rare.

It is usually the case with most men that their nature is so constituted that they pity those who fare badly and envy those who fare well.

The greater emotion with which we conceive a loved object to be affected toward us, the greater will be our complacency.