There is no man so blessed that some who stand by his deathbed won't hail the occasion with delight.

Can we wonder that men perish and are forgotten, when their noblest and most enduring works decay? Death comes even to monumental structures, and oblivion rests on the most illustrious names.

The one thing worth living for is to keep one's soul pure.

We are born for cooperation, as are the feet, the hands, the eyelids, and the upper and lower jaws.

It is not the body, nor the personality that is the true self. The true self is eternal. Even on the point of death we can say to ourselves, "my true self is free. I cannot be contained."

You need to be prepared for firm decisions and action, without losing gentleness towards those who obstruct or abuse you. It's as great a weakness to be angry with them as it is to abandon your plan of action and give up through fear.

My city and state are Rome. But as a human being? The world. So for me, "good" can only mean what's good for both communities.