The greatest thing in the world is for a man to know that he is his own.

'Tis time to wean ourselves from society when we can no longer add anything to it; he who is not in a condition to lend must forbid himself to borrow.

Our forces begin to fail us; let us call them in and concentrate them in and for ourselves.

He that can cast off within himself and resolve the offices of friendship and company, let him do it.
In this decay of nature which renders him useless, burdensome, and importunate to others, let him take care not to be useless, burdensome, and importunate to himself.

Let him soothe and caress himself, and above all things be sure to govern himself with reverence to his reason and conscience to that degree as to be ashamed to make a false step in their presence: "Rarum est enim, ut satis se quisque vereatur." ["For 'tis rarely seen that men have respect and reverence enough for themselves."-- Quintilian, x.