The first lessons with which we should irrigate his mind should be those which teach him to know himself, and to know how to die ... and to live.

We should rather examine, who is better learned, than who is more learned.

The great and glorious masterpiece of men is to live to the point. All other things-to reign, to hoard, to build-are, at most, but inconsiderable props and appendages.

Every man carries the entire form of human condition.

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.

Stubborn and ardent clinging to one's opinion is the best proof of stupidity.

In order always to learn something from others (which is the finest school there can be), I observe in my travels this practice: I always steer those with whom I talk back to the things they know best.