Whether the events in our life are good or bad, greatly depends on the way we perceive them.

The common notions that we find in credit around us and infused into our souls by our fathers' seed, these seem to be the universal and natural ones. Whence it comes to pass that what is off the hinges of custom, people believe to be off the hinges of reason.

When a Roman was returning from a trip, he used to send someone ahead to let his wife know, so as not to surprise her in the act.

The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little.

Just as in habiliments it is a sign of weakness to wish to make oneself noticeable by some peculiar and unaccustomed fashion, so, in language, the quest for new-fangled phrases and little-known words comes from a puerile and pedantic ambition.

Behold the hands, how they promise, conjure, appeal, menace, pray, supplicate, refuse, beckon, interrogate, admire, confess, cringe, instruct, command, mock and what not besides, with a variation and multiplication of variation which makes the tongue envious.

Glory consists of two parts: the one in setting too great a value upon ourselves, and the other in setting too little a value upon others.