The true joy of humankind is in doing that which is most proper to our nature; and the first property of people is to be kindly affected towards them that are of one kind with ourselves.

Our life is what our thoughts make it.

But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men, for it is in your power whenever you choose to retire into yourself.

You must become an old man in good time if you wish to be an old man long.

Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not, but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do possess, and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours.

Consider how many do not even know your name, and how many will soon forget it, and how those who now praise you will presently blame you.

A man should remove not only unnecessary acts, but also unnecessary thoughts, for then superfluous activity will not follow.