Out of two evils, the less is always to be chosen.

If you desire to know or learn anything to your advantage, then take delight in being unknown and unregarded. A true understanding and humble estimate of oneself is the highest and most valuable of all lessons.

If thou be not busy for thyself now, who shall be busy for thee in time to come?

Study, therefore, to withdraw the love of your soul from all things that are visible, and turn it to things that are invisible.

He who knows himself well is mean and abject in his own sight, and takes no delight in the vain praise of men.

As iron put into the fire loseth its rust and becometh clearly red-hot, so he that wholly turneth himself unto God puts off all slothfulness, and is transformed into a new man.

You are a man, not God; you are human, not an angel. How can you expect to remain always in a constant state of virtue, when this was not possible even for an angel of Heaven, nor for the first man in the Garden?