Knowledge conquered by labor becomes a possession -a property entirely our own.

The apprenticeship of difficulty is one which the greatest of men have had to serve.

It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures. Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done.

Men who are resolved to find a way for themselves will always find opportunities enough; and if they do not find them, they will make them.

Character is itself a fortune.

Opportunities ... fall in the way of every man who is resolved to take advantage of them.

It will generally be found that men who are constantly lamenting their ill luck are only reaping the consequences of their own neglect, mismanagement, and improvidence, or want of application.