A state is better governed which has few laws, and those laws strictly observed.

The only thing we have power over in the universe is our own thoughts.

Situations in life often permit no delay; and when we cannot determine the course which is certainly best, we must follow the one which is probably the best. This frame of mind freed me also from the repentance and remorse commonly felt by those vacillating individuals who are always seeking as worthwhile things which they later judge to be bad.

Although my knowledge grows more and more, nevertheless I do not for that reason believe that it can ever be actually infinite, since it can never reach a point so high that it will be unable to attain any greater increase.

Whenever anyone has offended me, I try to raise my soul so high that the offense cannot reach it.

We do not describe the world we see, we see the world we can describe.

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.