“From the deepest desires often come the deadliest hate.”

“Virtue does not come from wealth, but. . . wealth, and every other good thing which men have. . . comes from virtue.”

“There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse.”

“Life contains but two tragedies. One is not to get your heart’s desire; the other is to get it.”

“My plainness of speech makes them hate me, and what is their hatred but a proof that I am speaking the truth.”

“I do nothing but go about persuading you all, old and young alike, not to take thought for your persons or your properties, but and chiefly to care about the greatest improvement of the soul. I tell you that virtue is not given by money, but that from virtue comes money and every other good of man...”

“I desire only to know the truth, and to live as well as I can... And, to the utmost of my power, I exhort all other men to do the same... I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly conflict.”