To be always ready a man must be able to cut a knot, for everything cannot be untied.

Learn to... be what you are, and learn to resign with a good grace all that you are not.

Pay bad people with your goodness; fight their hatred with your kindness. Even if you do not achieve a victory over other people, you will conquer yourself.

If man was what he ought to be, he would be adored by the animals.

The soul may be immortal because she is fitted to rise towards that which is neither born nor dies, towards that which exists substantially, necessarily, invariably, that is to say towards God.

He who asks of life nothing but the improvement of his own nature... is less liable than anyone else to miss and waste life.

Heroism is the brilliant triumph of the soul over the flesh - over fear...Heroism is the dazzling and glorious concentration of courage.