“Kings stand more in need of the company of the intelligent than the intelligent do of the society of kings.”

Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his fund of knowledge, makes notorious his own stock of ignorance.

When a man appreciates only eating and sleeping, what excellence has he over the reptiles?

When the belly is empty, the body becomes spirit; and when it is full, the spirit becomes body.

A wise man among the ignorant is as a beautiful girl in the company of blind men.

Were the diver to think on the jaws of the shark, he would never lay hands on the precious pearl.

Take care what you say before a wall, as you cannot tell who may be behind it.

None can be so true to your secret as yourself.

A grateful dog is better than an ungrateful man.

The rose and the thorn, and sorrow and gladness are linked together.

The best loved by God are those that are rich, yet have the humility of the poor, and those that are poor and have the magnanimity of the rich.

Virtue pardons the wicked, as the sandal-tree perfumes the axe which strikes it.

Whoever has his foe at his mercy, and does not kill him, is his own enemy

It is safer to be silent than to reveal one’s secret to any one, and telling him not to mention it.

A lovely face is the solace of wounded hearts and the key of locked-up gates.

All human beings are limbs of the same body. God created them from the same essence. If one part of the body suffers pain, then the whole body is affected. If you are indifferent to this pain, you cannot be called a human being.

You who feel no pain at the suffering of others It is not fitting for you to be called human.

I do think there is an important artistic component in what we do. As a technology company I’ve tried to really stress that.

You don’t need to have a 100 person company to develop that idea.

If you’re trying to create a company, it’s like baking a cake. You have to have all the ingredients in the right proportion.

I’m going to go do this crazy thing. I’m going to start this company selling books online.

Don’t live to please everyone. Embrace those who enjoy your company and to hell with the haters.

A bore is someone who deprives you of solitude without providing you with company.

If Alibaba cannot become a Microsoft or Walmart, I will regret it for the rest of my life.

I am convinced that companies should put staff first, customers second and shareholders third – ultimately that’s in the best interest of customers and shareholders.