These reasonings are unconnected: "I am richer than you, therefore I am better"; "I am more eloquent than you, therefore I am better." The connection is rather this: "I am richer than you, therefore my property is greater than yours;" "I am more eloquent than you, therefore my style is better than yours." But you, after all, are neither property nor style.

We should not moor a ship with one anchor, or our life with one hope.

If you wish to write, write.

In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.

It is unlikely that the good of a snail should reside in its shell: so is it likely that the good of a man should?

The good or ill of a man lies within his own will.

Don't regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours.