One man may have some special knowledge at first-hand about the character of a river or a spring, who otherwise knows only what everyone else knows. Yet to give currency to this shred of information, he will undertake to write on the whole science of physics. From this fault many great troubles spring.

To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct. Our great and glorious masterpiece is to live appropriately. All other things, ruling, hoarding, building, are only little appendages and props, at most.

The ceaseless labour of your life is to build the house of death.

We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.

We need to interpret interpretations more than to interpret things.

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

A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward toward men; for a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.