Pain is slight if opinion has added nothing to it; ... In thinking it slight, you will make it slight. Everything depends on opinion. It is according to opinion that we suffer. A man is as wretched as he has convinced himself that he is.

Distringit librorum multitudo (the abundance of books is distraction).

It takes all of our life to learn how to live, and – something that may surprise you more – it takes just as long to learn how to die.

I am not a ‘wise man,’ nor . . . Shall I ever be. And so require not from me that I should be equal to the best, but that I should be better than the wicked. It is enough for me if every day I reduce the number of my vices, and blame my mistakes.

Man is a social animal.

Nature does not reveal her mysteries once and for all.