The mind has greater power over the emotions, and is less subject thereto, insofar as it understands all things to be necessary.

For peace is not mere absence of war, but is a virtue that springs from force of character: for obedience is the constant will to execute what, by the general decree of the commonwealth, ought to be done.

It may easily come to pass that a vain man may become proud and imagine himself pleasing to all when he is in reality a universal nuisance.

The most tyrannical of governments are those which make crimes of opinions, for everyone has an inalienable right to his thoughts.

Pride is pleasure arising from a man's thinking too highly of himself.

If the way which I have pointed out as leading to this result (i.e., power over the emotions by which the wise man surpasses the ignorant man) seems exceedingly hard, it may nevertheless be discovered. Needs must it be hard, since it is so seldom found. How would it be possible, if salvation were ready to our hand, and could without great labour be found, that it should be by almost all men neglected? But all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.

Academies that are founded at public expense are instituted not so much to cultivate men's natural abilities as to restrain them.