The Breath becomes a stone; the stone, a plant; the plant, an animal; the animal, a man; the man, a spirit; and the spirit, a god.

Merit is never so conspicuous as when coupled with an obscure origin, just as the moon never appears so lustrous as when it emerges from a cloud.

False friends are like our shadow, keeping close to us while we walk in the sunshine, but leaving us the instant we cross into the shade.

It is our relation to circumstances that determines their influence upon us.

To death we owe our life; the passing of one generation opens a way for another.

The cheerful live longest in years, and afterwards in our regards. Cheerfulness is the off-shoot of goodness.

Many children, many cares; no children, no felicity.