I do not portray the thing in itself. I portray the passage; not a passing from one age to another, or, as the people put it, from seven years to seven years, but from day to day, from minute to minute.

It needs courage to be afraid.

We trouble our life by thoughts about death, and our death by thoughts about life.

Socrates ... brought human wisdom back down from heaven, where she was wasting her time, and restored her to man.... It is impossible to go back further and lower. He did a great favor to human nature by showing how much it can do by itself.

Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing.

In general I ask for books that make use of learning, not those that build it up.

It's not victory if it doesn't end the war.