Philosophy takes as her aim the state of happiness...she shows us what are real and what are only apparent evils. She strips men's minds of empty thinking, bestows a greatness that is solid and administers a check to greatness where it is puffed up and all an empty show; she sees that we are left no doubt about the difference between what is great and what is bloated.

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.

I do not distinguish by the eye, but by the mind, which is the proper judge of the man.

To make a commencement requires a mental effort.

Such is the blindness, nay the insanity of mankind, that some men are driven to death by the fear of it.

Not a soul takes thought how well he may live- only how long: yet a good life might be everybody's, a long one can be nobody's.

It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness.