Of all the means to insure happiness throughout the whole life, by far the most important is the acquisition of friends.

The noble soul occupies itself with wisdom and friendship.

A strong belief in fate is the worst kind of slavery; on the other hand, there is a comfort in the thought that God will be moved by our prayers.

Pleasure is our first and kindred good. It is the starting point of every choice and of every aversion, and to it we always come back, inasmuch as we make feeling the rule by which to judge of every good thing.

The misfortune of the wise is better than the prosperity of the fool.

Fortune seldom troubles the wise man. Reason has controlled his greatest and most important affairs, controls them throughout his life, and will continue to control them.

Let no one delay the study of philosophy while young nor weary of it when old.