To different minds, the same world is a hell, and a heaven depending on whether they compare it to something better and so feel disappointed and bitter or something worse and so feel relieved and grateful.

We estimate the wisdom of nations by seeing what they did with their surplus capital.

Self sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grow.

So in writing, there is always a right word, and every other than that is wrong. There is no beauty in words except in their collocation. The effect of a fanciful word misplaced, is like that of a horn of exquisite polish growing on a human head.

My joy in friends, those sacred people, is my consolation.

Commerce is a game of skill which everyone cannot play and few can play well.

My good hoe as it bites the ground revenges my wrongs, and I have less lust to bite my enemies. In the smoothing the rough hillocks, I smooth my temper.