The man who does something under orders is not unhappy; he is unhappy who does something against his will.

Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.

He that makes himself famous by his eloquence, justice or arms illustrates his extraction, let it be never so mean; and gives inestimable reputation to his parents. We should never have heard of Sophroniscus, but for his son, Socrates; nor of Ariosto and Gryllus, if it had not been for Xenophon and Plato.

He that does good to another does good also to himself, not only in the consequence but in the very act. For the consciousness of well-doing is in itself ample reward.

Light is that grief which counsel can allay.

I persist on praising not the life I lead, but that which I ought to lead. I follow it at a mighty distance, crawling

The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man. It is more powerful than external circumstances.