“No man will be a sailor who has contrivance enough to get himself into a jail; for being in a ship is being in a jail, with the chance of being drowned. A man in a jail has more room, better food, and commonly better company.”

The future is purchased by the present.

Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life, and the unhappiest of all mortals are those who have more of either than they know how to use.

Nature has given women so much power that the law has very wisely given them little.

No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it…. There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government.

It is better to suffer wrong than to do it, and happier to be sometimes cheated than not to trust.

Exert your talents, and distinguish yourself, and don’t think of retiring from the world, until the world will be sorry that you retire.

The misery of man proceeds not from any single crush of overwhelming evil, but from small vexations continually repeated.

What is easy is seldom excellent.

Liberty is, to the lowest rank of every nation, little more than the choice of working or starving.

When any calamity is suffered, the first thing to be remembered is, how much has been escaped.

None but a fool worries about things he cannot influence.

A man is in general better pleased when he has a good dinner upon his table, than when his wife talks Greek.

When there is no hope, there can be no endeavor.

No man was ever great by imitation.

To preserve health is a moral and religious duty: for health is the basis of all social virtues; and we can be useful no longer than while we are well.

From thee, great God, we spring, to thee we tend,- Path, motive, guide, original, and end.

It is my art. I am better at it than I ever was. And I will do it as long as I can. When you reach a certain age you can slough off what is unnecessary and concentrate on what is. And why not?

A harmful truth is better than a useful lie.

Everyday is a gift, every gift is a chance to feel certain and every certainty is a exhilarating inspiration to do better.

Just set yourself a goal and try and stick to it. Because you’ll always end up better than where you started.

There is something better, if possible, that a man can give than his life. That is his living spirit to a service that is not easy, to resist counsels that are hard to resist, to stand against purposes that are difficult to stand against.

It’s not getting any better for the American people. It seems to be getting worse. That’s predictable; education is a cycle. Stupidity breeds more stupidity.

You’re stronger, and you’re better, and you’re ready for whatever.

I hate to see a guy who insults a girl or is bad with her. Immediately I think she would be better if she was with me.