Never open the door to a lesser evil, for other and greater ones invariably slink in after it.
— Baltasar Gracian
I strive to be brief, and I become obscure.
Nature scarcely ever gives us the very best; for that we must have recourse to art.
He that can live alone resembles the brute beast in nothing, the sage in much, and God in everything.
Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment.
Attempt easy tasks as if they were difficult, and difficult as if they were easy; in the one case that confidence may not fall asleep, in the other that it may not be dismayed.
Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way.
It is better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.
Let him that hath no power of patience retire within himself, though even there he will have to put up with himself.
Never do anything when you are in a temper, for you will do everything wrong.
Aspire rather to be a hero than merely appear one.
It is good to vary in order that you may frustrate the curious, especially those who envy you.
Even knowledge has to be in the fashion, and where it is not, it is wise to affect ignorance.
