I do not care so much what I am to others as I care what I am to myself.
The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them... Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.
There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge.
The customs and practices of life in society sweep us along.
Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.
Between ourselves, there are two things that I have always observed to be in singular accord: supercelestial thoughts and subterranean conduct.
One should be ever booted and spurred and ready to depart.
The thing I fear most is fear.
I quote others in order to better express my own self.
It is commonly seen by experience that excellent memories do often accompany weak judgements.
Women are not entirely wrong when they reject the moral rules proclaimed in society, since it is we men alone who have made them.
We trouble our life by thoughts about death, and our death by thoughts about life.
Such as are in immediate fear of a losing their estates, of banishment, or of slavery, live in perpetual anguish, and lose all appetite and repose; whereas such as are actually poor, slaves, or exiles...
All we do is to look after the opinions and learning of others: we ought to make them our own.
The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to know how to live to purpose.
We must not attach knowledge to the mind, we have to incorporate it there.
Our zeal works wonders, whenever it supports our inclination toward hatred, cruelty, ambition.
My business is only to keep myself in motion, whilst motion pleases me; I only walk for the walk's sake.
Diogenes was asked what wine he liked best and he answered "Somebody else's."
Fear desire hope still push us on toward the future.