Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.

The bravest sight in the world is to see a great man struggling against adversity.

Anger

The greatest remedy for anger is delay.

Appearance

There are no greater wretches in the world than many of those whom people in general take to be happy.

Ask

We never reflect how pleasant it is to ask for nothing.

Contentment

Happy the man who can endure the highest and the lowest fortune. He, who has endured such vicissitudes with equanimity, has deprived misfortune of its power.

Courage

It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that they are difficult.

The pressure of adversity does not affect the mind of the brave man. It is more powerful than external circumstances.

Danger

Constant exposure to dangers will breed contempt for them.

Difficulties

Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.

Expectation

Even if it is to be, what end do you serve by running to distress?

Fate

Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant.

Fear

Where the fear is, happiness is not.

Friends and Friendship

Friendship always benefits; love sometimes injures.

Giving

There is no delight in owning anything unshared.

Goals

Our plans miscarry because they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.

Gratitude

It is another's fault if he be ungrateful, but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige a great many that are not so.

Grief

Nothing becomes so offensive so quickly as grief. When fresh it finds someone to console it, but when it becomes chronic, it is ridiculed, and rightly.

Hatred

No one can be despised by another until he has learned to despise himself.

Individuality

A happy life is one which is in accordance with its own nature.

Judgment and Judges

If you would judge, understand.

Kings

The foremost art of kings is the ability to endure hatred.

Learning

That is never too often repeated, which is never sufficiently learned.

Life and Living

Life is warfare.

Love

If you wish to be loved; Love!

Masses

Nothing is so contemptible as the sentiments of the mob.

Moderation

It is the sign of a great mind to dislike greatness, and prefer things in measure to things in excess.

Money

A great fortune is a great slavery.

Ostentation

That which is given with pride and ostentation is rather an ambition than a bounty.

Pleasure

Enjoy present pleasures in such a way as not to injure future ones.

Poverty and The Poor

There is a noble manner of being poor, and who does not know it will never be rich.

Power

Authority founded on injustice is never of long duration.

Purpose

Why do I not seek some real good; one which I could feel, not one which I could display?

Restraint

Remove severe restraint and what will become of virtue?

Salvation

The first step in a person's salvation is knowledge of their sin.

Sensuality

If sensuality were happiness, beasts were happier than men; but human felicity is lodged in the soul, not in the flesh.

Shame

Shame may restrain what law does not prohibit.

Speakers and Speaking

When ever the speech is corrupted so is the mind.

Suffering

What was hard to suffer is sweet to remember.

Time and Time Management

Time discovered truth.

Vice

What were once vices are the fashion of the day.

Will and Will Power

No action will be considered blameless, unless the will was so, for by the will the act was dictated.