It is easy for men to write and talk like philosophers, but to act with wisdom, there is the rub!

The most civilized people are as near to barbarism as the most polished steel is to rust. Nations, like metals, have only a superficial brilliancy.

Man spends his life in reasoning on the past, in complaining of the present, in fearing future.

It is the dim haze of mystery that adds enchantment to pursuit.

Of every ten persons who talk about you, nine will say something bad, and the tenth will say something good in a bad way.

The absolute ruler may be a Nero, but he is sometimes a Titus or Marc Aurelius; the people is often Nero, but never Marc Aurelius.

To lose one's self in reverie, one must be either very happy, or very unhappy. Reverie is the child of extremes.

Gold like the sun, which melts wax, but hardens clay, expands great souls.

The only thing wealth does for some people is to make them worry about losing it.

The modest man has everything to gain, and the arrogant man everything to lose; for modesty has always to deal with generosity, and arrogance with envy.

Opinions, theories, and systems pass by turns over the grindstone of time, which at first gives them brilliancy and sharpness, but finally wears them out.

When you find yourself in the thickness of pursuing a goal or dream, stop only to rest. Momentum builds success.

There are heroes and schmucks in all worlds. The most important thing is whether you are willing to engage in moral struggle against yourself.

Having a roof over your head with enough food to eat is a fundamental need of all humans if they are to achieve happiness.

I have a resistance to change in things that I feel comfortable with and that I'm used to.

When you need a haircut, it looks like you have no one to take care of you.

I'd like to do something impossible rather than just something historical.

Much of my work has come from being lazy.

Could we have entered into the mind of Sir Isaac Newton, and have traced all the steps by which he produced his great works, we might see nothing very extraordinary in the process.

Don't forget that the most effective form of child abuse is giving a child everything they want.

In their seeking, wisdom and madness are one and the same. On the path of love, friend and stranger are one and the same.