Riches do not exhilarate us so much with their possession as they torment us with their loss.

Men are so thoughtless, nay, so mad, that some, through fear of death, force themselves to die.

As if they were our own handiwork we place a high value on our characters.

Let no young man delay the study of philosophy, and let no old man become weary of it; for it is never too early nor too late to care for the well-being of the soul.

We begin every act of choice and avoidance from pleasure, and it is to pleasure that we return using our experience of pleasure as the criterion of every good thing.

The wealth required by nature is limited and is easy to procure; but the wealth required by vain ideals extends to infinity.

I would rather be first in a little Iberian village than second in Rome.