Fortunate people often have very favorable beginnings and very tragic endings. What matters isn’t being applauded when you arrive – for that is common – but being missed when you leave.
A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends.
Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it.
Rate the intensive above the extensive. The perfect does not lie in quantity, but in quality.
A single lie destroys a whole reputation of integrity.
Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit.
Respect yourself if you would have others respect you.
Better mad with the rest of the world than wise alone.
It is a great piece of skill to know how to guide your luck even while waiting for it.
The heaven of the envied is hell for the envious.
Always act as if you were seen.
True knowledge lies in knowing how to live.
It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.
There are friendships merely for pleasure, some for the exchange of ideas. Rarest are those friends of one’s inmost self.
Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.
He that has satisfied his thirst turns his back on the well.
Share weight and woe, for misfortune falls with double force on him that stands alone.
Keep expectation alive. Keep stirring it up. Let much promise more, and great deeds herald greater.
Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself.
Evil report carries further than any applause.