When something out of the ordinary happens, it is ridiculous to say that it is a mystery or a portent of something to come... the mystery is created in (their) minds, and by waiting for disaster, it is from their very minds that it occurs.

You cannot tell whether a person is good or bad by his vicissitudes in life. Good and bad fortune are matters of fate.

Matters of small concern should be treated seriously.

It is a wretched thing that the young men of today are so contriving and so proud of their material posessions. Men with contriving hearts are lacking in duty. Lacking in duty, they will have no self-respect.

Having only wisdom and talent is the lowest tier of usefulness.

Everyone lets the present moment slip by, then looks for it as though he thought it were somewhere else.

Looking comparatively at the good things, you will see that they are not excluded from wisdom, humanity and bravery.