All these stupendous objects are daily around us; but because they are constantly exposed to our view, they never affect our minds, so natural is it for us to admire new, rather than grand objects. Therefore the vast multitude of stars which diversify the beauty of this immense body does not call the people together; but when any change happens therein, the eyes of all are fixed upon the heavens.

Let sleep itself be an exercise in piety, for such as our life and conduct have been, so also of necessity will be our dreams.

Lust hath these three companions: the first, blindness of understanding; the second, hardness of heart; the third, want of grace.

Do not measure your loss by itself; if you do, it will seem intolerable; but if you will take all human affairs into account you will find that some comfort is to be derived from them.

Now, if you notice how the swan, putting its neck down into the deep water, brings up food for itself from below, then you will discover the wisdom of the Creator, in that He gave it a neck longer than its feet for this reason, that it might, as if lowering a sort of fishing line, procure the food hidden in the deep water.

Resolve to treat the things in your possession as belonging to others.

If you begin to guard wealth it will not be yours. But if you begin to distribute it, you will not lose it.