When a person should be spoken with, and you don't speak with them, you lose them. When a person shouldn't be spoken with and you speak to them, you waste your breath. The wise do not lose people, nor do they waste their breath.

Who expects to be able to go out of a house except by the door? How is it then that no one follows this Way of ours?

There are some with whom we may study in common, but we shall find them unable to go along with us to principles. Perhaps we may go on with them to principles, but we shall find them unable to get established in those along with us. Or if we may get so established along with them, we shall find them unable to weigh occurring events along with us.

Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.

Never contract friendship with a man that is not better than thyself.

If a man be under the influence of anger his conduct will not be correct.

You can successfully force people to follow a certain course, but you cannot force them to understand it.