No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my color undiminished.

The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.

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.

Dress not thy thoughts in too fine a raiment. And be not a man of superfluous words or superfluous deeds.

Neither in writing nor in reading wilt thou be able to lay down rules for others before thou shalt have first learned to obey rules thyself.

Ambition means tying your well-being to what other people say or do. Self-indulgence means tying it to the things that happen to you. Sanity means tying it to your own actions.

Purge your mind of all aimless and idle thoughts, especially those that pry into the affairs of others or wish them ill.