The crossroads of trade are the meeting place of ideas, the attrition ground of rival customs and beliefs; diversities beget conflict, comparison, thought; superstitions cancel one another, and reason begins.

Man became free when he recognized that he was subject to law.

Knowledge is the eye of desire and can become the pilot of the soul.

Forget mistakes. Forget failure. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it. Today is your lucky day

For you will sorely miss civilization if it is sacrificed in the turbulence of change.

Often your face is your autobiography

So I should say that civilizations begin with religion and stoicism: they end with scepticism and unbelief, and the undisciplined pursuit of individual pleasure. A civilization is born stoic and dies epicurean.