“The continuous work of our life is to build death.”

“The ceaseless labor of your life is to build the house of death.”

“We trouble our life by thoughts about death, and our death by thoughts about life.”

“There is no knowledge so hard to acquire as the knowledge of how to live this life well and naturally.”

“Death is not one of our social managements; it is a scene with one character.”

“To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct. Our great and glorious masterpiece is to live appropriately. All other things, ruling, hoarding, building, are only little appendages and props, at most.”

“All is a-swarm with commentaries; of authors there is a dearth.”