While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die.
There are three classes of people: those who see, those who see when they are shown, those who do not see.
As a well-spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death.
A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.
I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. ‘Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death.
Although nature commences with reason and ends in experience it is necessary for us to do the opposite, that is to commence with experience and from this to proceed to investigate the reason.
All sciences are vain and full of errors that are not born of Experience, the mother of all Knowledge.
Man and animals are in reality vehicles and conduits of food, tombs of animals, hostels of Death, coverings that consume, deriving life by the death of others.
In rivers, the water that you touch is the last of what has passed and the first of that which comes: so with time present.
Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.