To be pleasant in a conversation, you must adapt to the character and mind of the interlocutors. Do not think of yourself as the censor of other people's words and expressions, because you will be considered a pedant, even more so, do not get attached to the thoughts and judgments of others, because they will avoid you, even abandon you completely. Wisdom is more important in conversation than eloquence.
If you want to put an end to gossip, ignore it.
Even politeness can be offensive if it's overdone.
Act in secret. Surprise is the guarantee of success. From an open game you have no gain, no joy.
It is dangerous to act when you doubt the wisdom of the act, better refrain. Wisdom leaves no room for insecurity, it always parades in the bright light of reason.
To do a job and show it. Everything is judged by appearance, not content. Having a quality and knowing how to show it is a double quality: what is not seen is as if it does not exist.
A day without a fight is like a deep sleep.
For the working man there is nothing more precious than something received for free.
Think about a successful outcome. Some are more concerned not to deviate from the direction in which they have started to go, than to think about reaching the goal; however, blame for failure will always cover praise for effort given. The winner has no excuses.
There are some for whom "no" is the first word at any time of the day; with these you need skill.
There are people who have the quality of those vessels that retain the smell of the first liquid poured into them, some nice smelling, some stinking.
Take on an easy task as a hard one, and a hard one as an easy one. In the first case, be so that confidence does not turn into superficiality; in the second, lack of confidence, in shyness.
The envious does not die once, but whenever his adversary is praised.
Know your petty starts. Not even the perfect man can avoid them, but she actually takes care of them, spoils them. In our mind these are not few, and the more mind we have, the more these starts are more or more obvious. And not because you don't notice them, but because you love them.
Don't be familiar and don't let others be either. Familiarity is fatal to the perfection of the good man, and then to the honor due to him.
Making a whole scandal out of every little thing is a pointless endeavor. It is just as stupid to be deeply saddened by something that is of no importance to you, and not to lift a finger for something really important.
Do not fall into disgrace with the successful one because of compassion for a loser. The happiness of some is not seldom founded on the unhappiness of others; if there were no fallen, there would be no victors.
Usually the losers arouse your pity - through this lamentable pity we somehow compensate for the cruelty of Fortune.
The art of being happy. There are several recipes for this, but not all of them suit the sage. The spirit of initiative can come to the aid of success. Some, with a nonchalant air, stop at Fortune's gates and wait for her to do her work. Others, more shrewd, boldly make their way forward and act, relying on their own strength, for sometimes the wings of courage make us attain happiness and win his good will. But, judging rightly, there is no better way than the way of virtue and effort, for there is no greater happiness than wisdom, and no greater unhappiness than lack of wisdom.
The art of living long: living with dignity. Two things lead a man to destruction: stupidity and fornication. Some lost their lives because they didn't know how to protect it, and others because they didn't want to.
The art of starting. Stupidity acts at random; all fools are brave. In their naivety, they do not foresee the obstacles from the very beginning, but neither do they suffer from failure at the end. Wisdom sets to work with care, and her scouts, Providence and Judgment, study the way, that they may advance without halts.
Look for a love that starts not so much from the heart as from reason - it is endowed with personality.
Everyone must be important in their occupation.
When you're having a discussion or arguing, do it like you're playing chess.
When the path is not clear, follow the wise and prudent people - sooner or later, they will find a way out.
The one whom nothing upsets has no heart, and the unfeeling man cannot be a personality.
He who gets angry in the midst of general merriment resembles a donkey and behaves like a donkey.
He who pays attention to little things shows his smallness of soul.
Forgetting is the best revenge, it buries the enemy in the dust of his own nothingness.
The best way to get what you want is to ignore it.