Great men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.

No man ever became wise by chance.

Death falls heavily on that man who, known too well to others, dies in ignorance of himself.

A man's ability cannot possibly be of one sort and his soul of another. If his soul be well-ordered, serious and restrained, his ability also is sound and sober. Conversely, when the one degenerates, the other is contaminated.

We deliberate about the parcels of life, but not about life itself, and so we arrive all unawares at its different epochs, and have the trouble of beginning all again. And so finally it is that we do not walk as men confidently towards death, but let death come suddenly upon us.

Precepts or maxims are of great weight; and a few useful ones at hand do more toward a happy life than whole volumes that we know not where to find.

There is nothing in the world so much admired as a man who knows how to bear unhappiness with courage.