Life and Existence

God has entrusted me with myself.

Never in any case say I have lost such a thing, but I have returned it. Is your child dead? It is a return. Is your wife dead? It is a return. Are you deprived of your estate? Is not this also a return?

The world turns aside to let any man pass who knows where he is going.

It is not he who reviles or strikes you who insults you, but your opinion that these things are insulting.

The essence of philosophy is that a man should so live that his happiness shall depend as little as possible on external things.

No man is free who is not master of himself.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.

The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it.

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

All religions must be tolerated, for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.

Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.

The vine bears three kinds of grapes: the first of pleasure, the second of intoxication, the third of disgust.

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.

I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be.

No man is hurt but by himself.

I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.