He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.

The hour of departure has arrived and we go our ways; I to die, and you to live. Which is better? Only God knows.

[N]either in war nor yet at law ought any man to use every way of escaping death. For often in battle there is no doubt that if a man will throw away his arms, and fall on his knees before his pursuers, he may escape death; and in other dangers there are other ways of escaping death, if a man is willing to say and do anything. The difficulty, my friends, is not in avoiding death, but in avoiding unrighteousness; for that runs faster than death.

To fear death, gentlemen, is no other than to think oneself wise when one is not, to think one knows what one does not know.

The greatest flood has the soonest ebb; the sorest tempest the most sudden calm; the hottest love the coldest end; and from the deepest desire oftentimes ensues the deadliest hate.

Obscurity is dispelled by augmenting the light of discernment, not by attacking the darkness.

I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul.