Tell no one the secret that you want to keep, although he may be worthy of confidence; for no one will be so careful of your secret as yourself.

Pride thyself on what virtue thou hast, and not on thy parentage.

The sea does not contain all the pearls, the earth does not enclose all the treasures, and the flint-stone does not inclose all the diamonds, since the head of man encloses wisdom.

Liberty is of more value than any gifts; and to receive gifts is to lose it. Be assured that men most commonly seek to oblige thee only that they may engage thee to serve them.

A wise man among the ignorant is as a beautiful girl in the company of blind men.

Joy and sorrow, beauty and deformity, equally pass away.

Virtue pardons the wicked, as the sandal-tree perfumes the axe which strikes it.