I do not care to speak ill of a man behind his back, but I believe he is an attorney.

A book should teach us to enjoy life, or to endure it.

We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often differ from ourselves.

The prosperity of a people is proportionate to the number of hands and minds usefully employed. To the community, sedition is a fever, corruption is a gangrene, and idleness is an atrophy. Whatever body or society wastes more than it acquires, must gradually decay, and every being that continues to be fed, and eases to labor, takes away something from the public stock.

Prudence is an attitude that keeps life safe, but does not often make it happy.

Every man that has felt pain knows how little all other comforts can gladden him to whom health is denied. Yet who is there does not sometimes hazard it for the enjoyment of an hour?

He that would be superior to external influences must first become superior to his own passions.