“We ourselve are the authors of almost all our woes and griefs, of which we so unreasonably complain.”

“There is no such thing as destiny. We ourselves shape our lives.”

“We love without heeding reason, and cease to love in the same manner.”

“Enjoy the present, bid defiance to the future, laugh at all those reasonable beings who exercise their reason to avoid the misfortunes which they fear, destroying at the same time the pleasure that they might enjoy.”

“The sweetest pleasures are those which are hardest to be won.”

“The philosopher is a person who refuses no pleasures which do not produce greater sorrows, and who knows how to create new ones.”

“To lead a blameless life you must curb your passions , and whatever misfortune may befall you cannot be ascribed by anyone to want of good luck, or attributed to fate; these words are devoid of sense, and all fault will rightly fall on your own head.”