All things fade and quickly turn to myth.

Look back over the past, with its changing empires that rose and fell, and you can foresee the future, too.

Always follow these two rules: first, act only on what your reasoning mind proposes for the good of humanity, and second, change your opinion if someone shows you it's wrong. This change of mind must proceed only from the conviction that it's both correct and for the common good, but not because it will give you pleasure and make you popular.

Live not as though there were a thousand years ahead of you. Fate is at your elbow; make yourself good while life and power are still yours.

Be like the rocky headland on which the waves constantly break. It stands firm, and round it the seething waters are laid to rest.

A great estate is a great disadvantage to those who do not know how to use it, for nothing is more common than to see wealthy persons live scandalously and miserably; riches do them no service in order to virtue and happiness; therefore 'tis precept and principle, not an estate, that makes a man good for something.

Men are born for each other's sake, so either teach people or endure them