Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.

Who is it that does not voluntarily exchange his health, his repose, and his very life for reputation and glory? The most useless, frivolous, and false coin that passes current among us.

Men are tormented by the opinions they have of things, and not the things themselves.

Water, earth, air, fire, and the other parts of this structure of mine are no more instruments of your life than instruments of your death. Why do you fear your last day? It contributes no more to your death than each of the others. The last step does not cause the fatigue, but reveals it. All days travel toward death, the last one reaches it.

There is nothing in which a horse's power is better revealed than in a neat, clean stop.

I want death to find me planting my cabbages, but careless of death, and still more of my unfinished garden.

I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.