There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

Have you been able to think out and manage your own life? You have done the greatest task of all.... All other things, ruling, hoarding, building, are only little appendages and props, at most.

Pride and curiosity are the two scourges of our souls. The latter prompts us to poke our noses into everything, and the former forbids us to leave anything unresolved and undecided.

We every day and every hour say things of another that we might more properly say of ourselves, could we but apply our observations to our own concerns.

To smell, though well, is to stink.

Fortune, to show us her power in all things, and to abate our presumption, seeing she could not make fools wise, has made them fortunate.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them if they will not apply themselves to me.