In this third period (as it may be termed) of my mental progress, which now went hand in hand with hers, my opinions gained equally in breadth and depth, I understood more things, and those which I had understood before, I now understood more thoroughly. I had now completely turned back from what there had been of excess in my reaction against Benthamism. I had, at the height of that reaction, certainly become much more indulgent to the common opinions of society and the world, and more willing to be content with seconding the superficial improvement which had begun to take place in those common opinions, than became one whose convictions on so many points, differed fundamentally from them. I was much more inclined, than I can now approve, to put in abeyance the more decidedly heretical part of my opinions, which I now look upon as almost the only ones, the assertion of which tends in any way to regenerate society. x

He is a dreamer of ancient times, or rather, of the myths of what ancient times used to be. Such men are harmless in themselves, but their queer lack of realism makes them fools for others.

What is at stake here is precisely the problem of the fulfillment of desire: when we encounter in reality an object which has all the properties of the fantasized object of desire, we are nevertheless necessarily somewhat disappointed; we experience a certain this is not it; it becomes evident that the finally found real object is not the reference of desire even though it possesses all the required properties.

The analysis achieves its end when the patient is able to recognize, in the Real of his symptom, the only support of his being. That is how we must read Freud's 'wo we war, soll ich werden:' you, the subject, must identify yourself with the place where your symptom already was; in its pathological particularity you must recognize the element which gives consistency to your being.

In peace, as a wise man, he should make suitable preparation for war.

Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise.

Death takes the mean man with the proud; The fatal urn has room for all.

Do you count your birthdays with gratitude?

People are enticed by a desire which continually cheats them.'Nothing is enough,' they say, 'for you're only worth what you have.'

For why do you hasten to remove things that hurt your eyes, but if anything gnaws your mind, defer the time of curing it from year to year?

Life's short span forbids us to enter on far reaching hopes.

Look round and round the man you recommend, for yours will be the shame should he offend.

We are but dust and shadow.

To have good sense, is the first principle and fountain of writing well.

The mind enamored with deceptive things, declines things better.

As for me, when you want a good laugh, you will find me in fine state... fat and sleek, a true hog of Epicurus' herd.

It is sweet and honorable to die for one's country.

Struggling to be brief I become obscure.

Often must you turn your pencil to erase, if you hope to write something worth a second reading.

He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin!

Now drown care in wine.

It is your concern when your neighbor's wall is on fire.

Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona. Brave men were living before Agamemnon. Book IV, ode ix, line 25

When you wish to instruct, be brief; that men's minds may take in quickly what you say, learn its lesson, and retain it faithfully. Every word that is unnecessary only pours over the side of a brimming mind.

So live, my boys, as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.

You may drive out Nature with a pitchfork, yet she still will hurry back.

The man who is tenacious of purpose in a rightful cause is not shaken from his firm resolve by the frenzy of his fellow citizens clamoring for what is wrong, or by the tyrant's threatening countenance.

It is difficult to speak of the universal specifically.

Let's put a limit to the scramble for money. ... Having got what you wanted, you ought to begin to bring that struggle to an end.

He who postpones the hour of living rightly is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses.

As we speak cruel time is fleeing. Seize the day, believing as little as possible in the morrow.

To have a great man for an intimate friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.

My cares and my inquiries are for decency and truth, and in this I am wholly occupied.

He wins every hand who mingles profit with pleasure, by delighting and instructing the reader at the same time.

This to the right, that to the left hand strays, and all are wrong, but wrong in different ways.

He is not poor who has enough of things to use. If it is well with your belly, chest and feet, the wealth of kings can give you nothing more.

If the world should break and fall on him, it would strike him fearless.

Nor word for word too faithfully translate.

We rarely find anyone who can say he has lived a happy life, and who, content with his life, can retire from the world like a satisfied guest.

The covetous man is ever in want.

In adversity, remember to keep an even mind.

At times the world sees straight, but many times the world goes astray.

Tomorrow we will be back on the vast ocean.

I am not bound over to swear allegiance to any master; where the storm drives me I turn in for shelter.

Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.

O Fortune, cruellest of heavenly powers, why make such game of this poor life of ours?

For joys fall not to the rich alone, nor has he lived ill, who from birth to death has passed unknown.

Force without wisdom falls of its own weight.

The mountains will be in labor, and a ridiculous mouse will be brought forth.

Tis not sufficient to combine well-chosen words in a well-ordered line.