Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.
If you hear that someone is speaking ill of you, instead of trying to defend yourself you should say: ‘He obviously does not know me very well, since there are so many other faults he could have mentioned.’
The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests.
Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.
Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.
Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily.
Keep silence for the most part, and speak only when you must, and then briefly.
When we blather about trivial things, we ourselves become trivial, for our attention gets taken up with trivialities. You become what you give your attention to.
In order to please others, we loose our hold on our life’s purpose.
On the occasion of every accident that befalls you, remember to turn to yourself and inquire what power you have for turning it to use.
Whenever you are angry, be assured that it is not only a present evil, but that you have increased a habit.
It is our attitude toward events, not events themselves, which we can control. Nothing is by its own nature calamitous – even death is terrible only if we fear it.
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.
It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death.
Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.
Once you know who you are and to whom you are linked, you will know what to do.
Choose the life that is noblest, for custom can make it sweet to thee.
Never say about anything, “I have lost it,” but only “I have given it back.” Is your child dead? It has been given back. Is your wife dead? She has been returned.
It is unreasonable to think we can earn rewards without being willing to pay their true price. It is always our choice whether or not we wish to pay the price for life’s rewards.
He is a drunkard who takes more than three glasses though he be not drunk.