Prepare thy soul calmly to obey; such offering will be more acceptable to God than every other sacrifice.

The eye that gazes upon the sun sees not the orb it looks upon, confounded by the excess of its brightness.

If our inward griefs were seen written on our brow, how many would be pitied who are now envied! [It., Se a ciascun l'interno affanno Si leggesse in fronte scritto, Quanti mai, che invidia fanno, Ci farebbero pieta!].

Prepare thy soul calmly to obey; such offering will be more acceptable to God than every other sacrifice.

If every man's internal care Were written on his brow, How many would our pity share Who raise our envy now?

It is by no means a fact that death is the worst of all evils; when it comes it is an alleviation to mortals who are worn out with sufferings.

It is the just decree of Heaven that a traitor never sees his danger till his ruin is at hand.