Praise in the beginning is agreeable enough; and we receive it as a favor; but when it comes in great quantities, we regard it only as a debt, which nothing but our merit could extort.

There is this paradox in pride - it makes some men ridiculous, but prevents others from becoming so.

Praise from the common people is generally false, and rather follows the vain that the virtuous.

Most powerful is he who has himself in his power.

The measure of a man is what he does with power.

It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating.

There is no meaning to life except the meaning man gives his life by unfolding of his powers.

The imbecility of men is always inviting the impudence of power.

To know the pains of power, we must go to those who have it; to know its pleasures, we must go to those who are seeking it. The pains of power are real; its pleasures imaginary.

If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.