A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy.
In this theater of man’s life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers-on.
Numbers have a way of taking a man by the hand and leading him down the path of reason.
Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good.
It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.
Friendship is one soul in two bodies.
Government exists only for the good of the governed.
Don’t eat your heart.
It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good.
Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous.
A stranger, if just, is not only to be preferred before a countryman, but a kinsman.
He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods.
You will know that wretched men are the cause of their own suffering, who neither see nor hear the good that is near them, and few are the ones who know how to secure release from their troubles.
The soul of man is divided into three parts, intelligence, reason, and passion. Intelligence and passion are possessed by other animals, but reason by man alone.
To cognize the Divine Essence – this is the highest purpose of soul, sent by the Creator to the Earth!
There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity.
Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day. Where have I turned aside from rectitude? What have I been doing? What have I left undone, which I ought to have done?
Truth is to be sought with a mind purified from the passions of the body. Having overcome evil things, thou shalt experience the union of the union mortal divinity with the mortal man.
Wealth is a weak anchor, and glory cannot support a man; this is the law of God, that virtue only is firm, and cannot be shaken by a tempest.
The stars in the heavens sing a music, if only we had ears to hear.
Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything.