Who are we that we should achieve mightily! What are we when the gods have done with us, but a handful of dust! Who saves himself from age and unloveliness and ultimate imbecility, by all the superhuman efforts he may exert! A pest on the first morose man that made dismal endeavor a virtue!" She looked at him with amazement, though until that hour she believed that this man could astonish her no more.
"Misfortune comes often enough without our knocking at her door," he continued.

"Mankind is the only creature with conceit enough to seek to emulate the gods.

It is wrong to think that to be moral is to be miserable.

Nature's scheme for us, faithfully fulfilled, is always pleasurable.

We have only to recognize it, and receive its benefits.
Nothing on earth is luckier than man, if he but knew it.