The easiest and noblest way is not to be crushing others, but to be improving yourselves.

The highest realms of thought are impossible to reach without first attaining an understanding of compassion.

Be slow to fall into friendship; but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.

Nature has given us two ears, two eyes, and but one tongue-to the end that we should hear and see more than we speak.

If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it.

I was afraid that by observing objects with my eyes and trying to comprehend them with each of my other senses I might blind my soul altogether.

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men’s writings so that you shall come easily by what others have labored hard for.

Falling down is not a failure. Failure comes when you stay where you have fallen.

The wise man seeks death all his life, and for this reason death is not terrifying to him.

Be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth, that no evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death.

The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our separate ways, I to die, and you to live. Which of these two is better only God knows.

No one knows whether death may not be the greatest of all blessings for a man, yet men fear it as if they knew it was the greatest of evils.

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.

Be nicer than necessary to everyone you meet. Everyone is fighting some kind of battle.

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