The opinion of 10,000 men is of no value if none of them know anything about the subject.

Just consider, my friend, whether a pure spirit and virtue are anything other than saving your life and being saved. Perhaps we need to discard the idea of longevity and cease loving this life, instead committing these things to God and, believing that no one ever escapes destiny, to consider, with that in mind, how we may live the best possible life in the time that remains.

Remember that the sole life which a man can lose is that which he is living at the moment.

Despise not death, but welcome it, for nature wills it like all else.

Waste no more time talking about great souls and how they should be, become one yourself!

This is enough. Do not add, And why were such things made in the world?

Is your cucumber bitter? Throw it away. Are there briars in your path? Turn aside. That is enough. Do not go on and ay, 'Why were things of this sort ever brought into the world?'