Thus I reel from desire to fulfillment and in fulfillment languish for desire.

The soul-stirring image of death is no bugbear to the sage, and is looked on without despair by the pious. It teaches the former to live, and it strengthens the hopes of the latter in salvation in the midst of distress. Death is new life to both.

Let us seek to fathom those things that are fathomable and reserve those things which are unfathomable for reverence in quietude.

How many kings are governed by their ministers, how many ministers by their secretaries? Who, in such cases, is really the chief?

Know thyself? If I knew myself I would run away.

Two souls dwell, alas! in my breast.

One that does not think to highly of himself is more than he thinks.