It is hard to imagine that war, the wildest thing imaginable, is the passion of the most heroic souls.
Whoever proves to be a true friend is also a true man, who does not remain indebted to society.
He who believes in life after death need not worry too much about the fate of virtue in this world.
The artist, if he is not without genius, understands the truth and unity of a conception, understands that he will cease to be genuine if he sticks too close to nature and copies it all the time.
The man who is generous by nature, like true morality, needs no help from religion. In the man who has become moral under the influence of religion there is no more truth, genuine piety, or holiness, than we find kindness and gentleness in a typhus patient kept in chains.
The stronger the pressure, the sharper the satire. The heavier the bondage, the more imperceptible it is.
For some - an absurdity, for others - proof.
Be skilled in anger. Do so that cold judgment prevents rude starts - for the wise, it is not difficult.
Speed in decisions is the result of a happy natural liveliness. For this, quick and brave, there are neither difficulties nor hesitations. Some people think a lot and once they get down to business, they screw it up, others succeed in everything without long meditations. There are skills of a special kind. Which manifests itself most effectively by facing hardships. Such amazing beings succeed in everything without thinking and after long meditation - nothing comes out of them; if it did not come out of the first, do not expect any benefit and do not rely on the future. Praise be to the quick, because as if by a miracle, they succeed everywhere - and they think quickly, and they are skilled at work.
At twenty, feelings dominate, at thirty, talent, and at forty, reason.
It is more important to know the types of people and their qualities than those of herbs and stones. This is one of the finer arts of life.
Important friends for important jobs... That's why it's more important to have important friends and know how to keep them than to have money.
An effective way to be kind - always be calm.
If you see something bad in people, don't rejoice, and even more so don't comment. Gossip is a nasty thing. If you say something bad, you hear even worse.
Master the art of conversation, because in conversation one discovers personality. None of human pursuits calls for more wisdom, though in life there is nothing more common - here everything is lost or gained.
In any case, if you know little, stick to the proven ones.
Finish a lucky game in time. It's the rule of experienced players. Knowing how to retreat with dignity is as important as knowing how to attack with courage; when you have earned enough, when you have achieved a lot - draw the line.
To turn sadness into joy is to know how to live.
All fools are stubborn and stubborn are fools.
All people have a very good opinion of themselves, and the better that opinion is, the less they deserve.
Always be on the lookout for the ignorant, the stubborn, the fuming, all kinds of ignorance. You run into many of these in the world, and the wisdom lies in managing not to run into them.
Always and before all parades the Lie, fascinating fools with its vulgar shrillness. Last, last, comes Truth, which limps, walking sluggishly behind Time... On the surface lies always Deceit, and to it shallow men rush. True Essence closes itself in to be more cherished by the knowers and those gifted with reason.
It's always better to be sure before you get down to business, especially if success isn't certain. Take your time, either to refuse or to convince yourself that new arguments in favor of your decision come to mind.
Always want something so that you are not unhappy because of the overflow of happiness. The body breathes, the spirit is thirsty. If we owned everything, we would be hated and bored; even to the mind you have to set aside something unknown that provokes curiosity. Hope inspires, drenching destroys. Even when you reward, don't give all the satisfaction at once; when you wish for nothing, expect something bad: happiness is unhappiness. When desires end, so do fears.
It's easy to let go of a word and hard to catch it. In conversation it happens the same as in a will with fewer words, fewer processes. When you discuss trifles, probe the ground for more important things. A hidden thread has a wonderful air. Whoever reveals himself easily in a conversation, you can quickly convince him - and win.
Expressing surprise is a sign of impoliteness.
The hero has the quality and approaches other heroes; a mysterious and impressive quality - one of the wonders of nature.
He's a fool who doesn't recognize fools, but worse is he who, having recognized them, doesn't get away from them.
It is better to speak timely than eloquently.
Controlling one's passions is a quality of a superior spirit. This very superiority protects the spirit from foreign and base influences. There is no greater power than power over yourself over your own passions, over your own will.