"One ought to seek out virtue for its own sake, without being influenced by fear or hope, or by any external influence. Moreover, that in that does happiness consist."

"They say that the first inclination which an animal has is to protect itself."

"When Zeno was asked what a friend was, he replied, "Another I.""

"Diogenes said once to a person who was showing him a dial, "It is a very useful thing to save a man from being too late for supper.""

"When a man reproached him for going into unclean places, he said, "The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.""

"Asked from what country he came, he replied, "I am a citizen of the world.""

"When asked what wine he liked to drink, he replied, "That which belongs to another.""

"Once he saw a youth blushing, and addressed him, "Courage, my boy! that is the complexion of virtue.""

"When asked what he would take to let a man give him a blow on the head, he said, "A helmet.""

"Diogenes lighted a candle in the daytime, and went round saying, "I am looking for a man.""

"A man once asked Diogenes what was the proper time for supper, and he made answer, "If you are a rich man, whenever you please; and if you are a poor man, whenever you can.""

"Plato having defined man to be a two-legged animal without feathers, Diogenes plucked a cock and brought it into the Academy, and said, "This is Plato’s man." On which account this addition was made to the definition,—"With broad flat nails.""

"Be of good cheer," said Diogenes; "I see land."

"All things are in common among friends."

"One of the sayings of Diogenes was that most men were within a finger’s breadth of being mad; for if a man walked with his middle finger pointing out, folks would think him mad, but not so if it were his forefinger."

"Bury me on my face," said Diogenes; and when he was asked why, he replied, "Because in a little while everything will be turned upside down."

"Diogenes would frequently praise those who were about to marry, and yet did not marry."

"When asked what learning was the most necessary, he said, "Not to unlearn what you have learned.""

"When he was praised by some wicked men, he said, "I am sadly afraid that I must have done some wicked thing.""

"Antisthenes used to say that envious people were devoured by their own disposition, just as iron is by rust."

"It was a favourite expression of Theophrastus that time was the most valuable thing that a man could spend."

"He used to teach that God is incorporeal, as Plato also asserted, and that his providence extends over all the heavenly bodies."

"The chief good he has defined to be the exercise of virtue in a perfect life."

"Another of his sayings was, that education was the best viaticum of old age."

"He used to define justice as "a virtue of the soul distributing that which each person deserved.""

"The question was once put to him, how we ought to behave to our friends; and the answer he gave was, "As we should wish our friends to behave to us.""

"Asked what he gained from philosophy, he answered, "To do without being commanded what others do from fear of the laws.""

"He was once asked what a friend is, and his answer was, "One soul abiding in two bodies.""

"It was a saying of his that education was an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity."

"On one occasion Aristotle was asked how much educated men were superior to those uneducated: "As much," said he, "as the living are to the dead.""

"He used to say that personal beauty was a better introduction than any letter; but others say that it was Diogenes who gave this description of it, while Aristotle called beauty "the gift of God"; that Socrates called it "a short-lived tyranny"; Theophrastus, "a silent deceit"; Theocritus, "an ivory mischief"; Carneades, "a sovereignty which stood in need of no guards"."

"The question was put to him, what hope is; and his answer was, "The dream of a waking man.""

"Aristotle was once asked what those who tell lies gain by it. Said he, "That when they speak truth they are not believed.""

"Very late in life, when he was studying geometry, some one said to Lacydes, "Is it then a time for you to be learning now?" "If it is not," he replied, "when will it be?""

"He has not acquired a fortune; the fortune has acquired him."

"The road to Hades is the easiest to travel."

"Wealth is the sinews of affairs."

"Old age is the harbor of all ills."

"Bion insisted on the principle that "The property of friends is common.""

"Of a rich man who was niggardly he said, "That man does not own his estate, but his estate owns him.""

"Once when Bion was at sea in the company of some wicked men, he fell into the hands of pirates; and when the rest said, "We are undone if we are known,"—"But I," said he, "am undone if we are not known.""

"Bion used to say that the way to the shades below was easy; he could go there with his eyes shut."

"Arcesilaus had a peculiar habit while conversing of using the expression, "My opinion is," and "So and so will not agree to this.""

"Plato was continually saying to Xenocrates, "Sacrifice to the Graces.""

"If thou bear it unwillingly, thou makest a burden for thyself and greatly increaseth thy load, and yet thou must bear it. If thou cast away one cross, without doubt thou shalt find another and perchance a heavier."

"The book of Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ, has long been appreciated in the East not only by virtue of its content but because of the meaning of its title. In the midst of medieval idolatry of Christ, the voice of Thomas à Kempis resounded in protest. From behind the walls of a Catholic monastery rang out a voice to clarify the Image of the Great Teacher. The very word imitation comprises a vital action. The formula — Imitation of Christ — is an achievement of daring innate in the conscious spirit that accepts all responsibility of creation. Truly, the conscious pupil dares to approach the Teacher in imitation. Such an example brought light into the musty darkness and behind the monastic walls provided the impetus to strive toward creative daring. In accordance with the groveling medieval consciousness, it would have been fitting to say, "The Worship of Christ." But the ascendant spirit dared to pronounce a call to imitation. Each step of blessed daring must be cherished as a milestone in the progress of humanity. We do not give attention to monastic utterances. Thomas had no need to climb to the stake — his task was to proclaim not the forbidden but the inspiring formula."

"For they truly know their Lord in the breaking of bread, whose heart within them so vehemently burneth, whilst Thou, O blessed Jesus, dost walk and converse with them."

"I offer also to Thee prayers and Sacramental intercessions for those specially who have injured me in aught, made me sad, or spoken evil concerning me, or have caused me any loss or displeasure; for all those also whom I have at any time made sad, disturbed, burdened, and scandalized, by words or deeds, knowingly or ignorantly; that to all of us alike, Thou mayest equally pardon our sins and mutual offences. Take away, O Lord, from our hearts all suspicion, indignation, anger, and contention, and whatsoever is able to injure charity and diminish brotherly love. Have mercy, have mercy, Lord, on those who entreat Thy mercy; give grace to the needy; and make us such that we may be worthy to enjoy Thy grace, and go forward to the life eternal."

"Lament grievously and be sorry, because thou art still so carnal and worldly, so unmortified from thy passions, so full of the motion of concupiscence, so unguarded in thine outward senses, so often entangled in many vain fancies, so much inclined to outward things, so negligent of internal; so ready to laughter and dissoluteness, so unready to weeping and contrition; so prone to ease and indulgence of the flesh, so dull to zeal and fervour; so curious to hear novelties and behold beauties, so loth to embrace things humble and despised; so desirous to have many things, so grudging in giving, so close in keeping; so inconsiderate in speaking, so reluctant to keep silence; so disorderly in manners, so inconsiderate in actions; so eager after food, so deaf towards the Word of God; so eager after rest, so slow to labour; so watchful after tales, so sleepy towards holy watchings; so eager for the end of them, so wandering in attention to them; so negligent in observing the hours of prayer, so lukewarm in celebrating, so unfruitful in communicating; so quickly distracted, so seldom quite collected with thyself; so quickly moved to anger, so ready for displeasure at others; so prone to judging, so severe at reproving; so joyful in prosperity, so weak in adversity; so often making many good resolutions and bringing them to so little effect."

"Even though Thou dost expose me to divers temptations and adversities, Thou ordainest all this unto my advantage, for Thou are wont to prove Thy beloved ones in a thousand ways."