The real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.

Wealth is well known to be a great comforter.

Just as it would be madness to settle on medical treatment for the body of a person by taking an opinion poll of the neighbors, so it is irrational to prescribe for the body politic by polling the opinions of the people at large.

A wise ignorance is an essential part of knowledge.

The man who arrives at the doors of artistic creation with none of the madness of the Muses would be convinced that technical ability alone was enough to make an artist... what that man creates by means of reason will pale before the art of inspired beings.

Those who intend on becoming great should love neither themselves or their own things, but only what is just, whether it happens to be done by themselves or others.

Let him know how to choose the mean and avoid the extremes on either side, as far as possible. . . . For this is the way of happiness.