Remove severe restraint and what will become of virtue?

There has not been any great talent without an element of madness. -Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae fuit

The philosopher: he alone knows how to live for himself. He is the one, in fact, who knows the fundamental thing: how to live.

All I desire is, that my poverty may not be a burden to myself, or make me so to others; and that is the best state of fortune that is neither directly necessitous nor far from it. A mediocrity of fortune, with gentleness of mind, will preserve us from fear or envy; which is a desirable condition; for no man wants power to do mischief.

Such as the chain of causes we call Fate, such is the chain of wishes: one links on to another; the whole man is bound in the chain of wishing for ever.

Speech is the index of the mind.

Fire tests gold, suffering tests brave men.