The less we read, the more harmful it is what we read.

What is vanity but the longing to survive?

Anyone who in discussion relies upon authority uses, not his understanding, but rather his memory.

And usually [the philosopher] philosophizes either in order to resign himself to life, or to seek some finality in it, or to distract himself and forget his griefs, or for pastime and amusement.

Man habitually sacrifices his life to his purse, but he sacrifices his purse to his vanity.

Cure yourself of the inclination to bother about how you look to other people. Be concerned only . . . with the idea God has of you.

Cure yourself of the affliction of caring how you appear to others. Concern yourself only with how you appear before God, concern yourself only with the idea that God may have of you.