There is no man so blessed that some who stand by his deathbed won't hail the occasion with delight.

Be cheerful also, and seek not external help nor the tranquility which others give. A man then must stand erect, not be kept erect by others.

Not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it's humanly possible, you can do it too.

Begin the morning by saying to thyself, I shall meet with the busy-body, the ungrateful, arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial.

People who labor all their lives but have no purpose to direct every thought and impulse toward are wasting their time—even when hard at work.

Do, soul, do; abuse and contemn thyself; yet a while and the time for thee to respect thyself, will be at an end.

Stop wandering about! You aren't likely to read your own notebooks, or ancient histories, or the anthologies you've collected to enjoy in your old age. Get busy with life's purpose, toss aside empty hopes, get active in your own rescue-if you care for yourself at all-and do it while you can.