It is not the young man who should be considered fortunate but the old man who has lived well, because the young man in his prime wanders much by chance, vacillating in his beliefs, while the old man has docked in the harbor, having safeguarded his true happiness.

The wise man who has become accustomed to necessities knows better how to share with others than how to take from them, so great a treasure of self-sufficiency has he found.

All sensations are true; pleasure is our natural goal.

Men, believing in myths, will always fear something terrible, everlasting punishment as certain or probable . . . Men base all these fears not on mature opinions, but on irrational fancies, that they are more disturbed by fear of the unknown than by facing facts. Peace of mind lies in being delivered from all these fears.

All other love is extinguished by self-love; beneficence, humanity, justice, philosophy, sink under it.

The wise man thinks of fame just enough to avoid being despised.

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