"There is nothing to write about, you say. Well, then, write and let me know just this,—that there is nothing to write about; or tell me in the good old style if you are well. That's right. I am quite well."

"I contemplate the sort of friend, the sort of man I am now without. He completed his sixty-seventh year, a reasonable age for the sturdiest of us; I acknowledge that. He escaped from an interminable illness; I acknowledge that. He died with his dear ones surviving him, and at a time of prosperity for the state, which was dearer to him than all else; that too I acknowledge. Yet I lament his death as though he were young and in glowing health. I lament it—you can consider me a weakling in this—on my own account, for I have lost the witness, guardian and teacher of my life."

"Quod dubites, ne feceris."

"Usus, magister egregius."

"Quam peritus ille et privati iuris et publici! quantum rerum, quantum exemplorum, quantum antiquitatis tenet! Nihil est quod discere velis quod ille docere non possit; mihi certe quotiens aliquid abditum quaero, ille thesaurus est."

"Ornat haec magnitudo animi, quae nihil ad ostentationem, omnia ad conscientiam refert recteque facti non ex populi sermone mercedem, sed ex facto petit."

"Plenus annis abit, plenus honoribus."

"The living voice is that which sways the soul."

"Numerantur enim sententiae, non ponderantur; nec aliud in publico consilio potest fieri, in quo nihil est tam inaequale quam aequalitas ipsa."

"Rarum id quidem nihil enim aeque gratum est adeptis quam concupiscentibus."

"Vita hominum altos recessus magnasque latebras habet."

"Quamlibet saepe obligati, si quid unum neges, hoc solum meminerunt quod negatum est."

"Dicere etiam solebat nullum esse librum tam malum ut non aliqua parte prodesset.."

"Multi famam, conscientiam pauci verentur."

"Neque enim minus apud nos honestas quam apud alios necessitas valet."

"Omnes enim, qui gloria famaque ducuntur, mirum in modum assensio et laus a minoribus etiam profecta delectat."

"Educentur hic qui hic nascuntur, statimque ab infantia natale solum amare frequentare consuescant."

"By then day had broken everywhere, but here it was still night—no, more than night."

"Dixi omnia cum hominem nominavi."

"Utque in corporibus sic in imperio gravissimus est morbus, qui a capite diffunditur."

"Si computes annos, exiguum tempus, si vices rerum, aevum putes."

"Mihi autem videtur acerba semper et immatura mors eorum, qui immortale aliquid parant."

"Proinde, dum suppetit vita, enitamur ut mors quam paucissima quae abolere possit inveniat."

"Est omnino iniquum, sed usu receptum, quod honesta consilia vel turpia, prout male aut prospere cedunt, ita vel probantur vel reprehenduntur."

"Nescit enim semel incitata liberalitas stare, cuius pulchritudinem usus ipse commendat."

"O morte ipsa mortis tempus indignius!"

"This expression of ours, "Father of a family.""

"Poetis mentiri licet."

"Quam multum interest quid a quoque fiat!"

"Multum legendum esse, non multa."

"In numero ipso est quoddam magnum collatumque consilium, quibusque singulis iudicii parum, omnibus plurimum."

"Oportet privatis utilitatibus publicas, mortalibus aeternas anteferre, multoque diligentius muneri suo consulere quam facultatibus."

"Everything was done."

"Nam nec historia debet egredi veritatem, et honeste factis veritas sufficit."

"Olim nescio quid sit otium quid quies, quid denique illud iners quidem, iucundum tamen nihil agere nihil esse."

"Est enim quaedam etiam dolendi voluptas, praesertim si in amici sinu defleas, apud quem lacrimis tuis vel laus sit parata vel venia."

"Parvolum differt, patiaris adversa an exspectes; nisi quod tamen est dolendi modus, non est timendi. Doleas enim quantum scias accidisse, timeas quantum possit accidere."

"Falsum est nimirum quod creditur vulgo, testamenta hominum speculum esse morum."

"Ad quae noscenda iter ingredi, transmittere mare solemus, ea sub oculis posita neglegimu. ... Differimus tamquam saepe visuri, quod datur videre quotiens velis cernere."

"Impensa monumenti supervacua est; memoria nostri durabit, si vita meruimus."

"Neque enim soli iudicant qui maligne legunt."

"Nihil peccat, nisi quod nihil peccat."

"Ut satius unum aliquid insigniter facere quam plura mediocriter, ita plurima mediocriter, si non possis unum aliquid insigniter."

"Ea invasit homines habendi cupido, ut possideri magis quam possidere videantur."

"Quamquam longissimus, dies cito conditur."

"Sine auctore vero propositi libelli nullo crimine locum habere debent. Nam et pessimi exempli nec nostri saeculi est."

"Habet has vices conditio mortalium, ut adversa ex secundis, ex adversis secunda nascantur."

"Secunda felices, adversa magnos probent."

"The post is unique. It brings great solitude. I was solitary before, but now my solitariness becomes complete and awesome. Hence the dizziness, the vertigo. Like a statue on a plinth — that is how I live now. Jesus was also alone on the cross. We hear that he expressed his desolation by crying out, Eloi, Eloi. My solitude will grow. I need have no fears: I should not seek outside help to absolve me from my duty; my duty is to plan, decide, assume every responsibility for guiding others, even when it seems illogical and perhaps absurd. And to suffer alone. The consolation of confiding in others will be rare and discreet: the depths of the spirit remain within me. Me and God. The colloquy with God must be full and endless"

"The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to them, even though it sometimes entails many difficulties and hardships."