The shortest way to arrive at glory would be to do that for conscience which we do for glory.

To know how to live is my trade and my art.

Lawyers and physicians are an ill provision for any country.

Meditation is a powerful and full study as can effectually taste and employ themselves.

The thing in the world I am most afraid of is fear.

Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy; research, the progress; ignorance, the end. There is, by heavens, a strong and generous kind of ignorance that yields nothing, for honour and courage, to knowledge: an ignorance to conceive which needs no less knowledge than to conceive knowledge.

No profession or occupation is more pleasing than the military; a profession or exercise both noble in execution (for the strongest, most generous and proudest of all virtues is true valor) and noble in its cause. No utility either more just or universal than the protection of the repose or defense of the greatness of one's country. The company and daily conversation of so many noble, young and active men cannot but be well-pleasing to you.