No man esteems anything that comes to him by chance; but when it is governed by reason, it brings credit both to the giver and receiver; whereas those favors are in some sort scandalous that make a man ashamed of his patron.

A man is as unhappy as he has convinced himself he is.

I never come back home with the same moral character I went out with; something or other becomes unsettled where I had achieved internal peace; some one or other of the things I had put to flight reappears on the scene.

So enjoy the pleasures of the hour as not to spoil those that are to follow.

The vices of idleness are only to be shaken off by active employment.

If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living.

Whatever fortune has raised to a height, she has raised only to cast it down.