“Many exceedingly rich men are unhappy, but many middling circumstances are fortunate.”

Where even a falsehood must be told, let it be told.

I am bound to tell what I am told, but not in every case to believe it.

Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.

Whatever comes from God is impossible for a man to turn back.

The man of affluence is not in fact more happy than the possessor of a bare competency, unless, in addition to his wealth, the end of his life be fortunate. We often see misery dwelling in the midst of splendour, whilst real happiness is found in humbler stations.

As the old saw says well: every end does not appear together with its beginning. It’s impossible for someone who is human to have all good things together, just as there is no single country able to provide all good things for itself.

Chances rule men and not men chances.

How can a monarchy be a suitable thing, which allows a man to do as he pleases with none to hold him to account. And even if you were to take the best man on earth, and put him into a monarchy, you put outside him the thoughts that usually guide him.

All men’s gains are the fruit of venturing.

Force has no place where there is need of skill.

When life is so burdensome death has become a sought after refuge.

Illness strikes men when they are exposed to change.

There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob.

The Lacedaemonians fought a memorable battle; they made it quite clear that they were the experts, and that they were fighting against amateurs.

We are less convinced by what we hear than by what we see.

Circumstances rule men; men do not rule circumstances.

I don’t know if I believe in luck. I think I’m very fortunate.

Don’t let your heart depend on things That ornament life in a fleeting way! He who possesses, let him learn to lose, He who is fortunate, let him learn pain.

We can never replace a friend. When a man is fortunate enough to have several, he finds they are all different. No one has a double in friendship.

The highest test of the civilization of any race is in its willingness to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate.

No man is happy; he is at best fortunate.

So far I’ve been very, very fortunate because it appears that people like to hear the music I like to play. What more fortunate position can a musician be in?

Strong hearts and helpful hands are needed, and, fortunately, we have them in every part of our beloved country.

We were incredibly fortunate to get to make three Batman films. That’s enough. Let’s not get greedy. It’s a torch that should be handed from one actor to another. So I enjoy looking forward to what somebody else will come up with.