When a dog is tied to a cart, if it wants to follow, it is pulled and follows, making its spontaneous act coincide with necessity. But if the dog does not follow, it will be compelled in any case. So it is with men too: even if they don’t want to, they will be compelled to follow what is destined.

The end may be defined as life in accordance with nature or, in other words, in accordance with our own human nature as well as that of the universe.

No matter whether you claim a slave by purchase or capture, the title is bad. They who claim to own their fellow-men, look down into the pit and forget the justice that should rule the world.

Love is a God, who cooperates in securing the safety of the city.

No evil is honorable: but death is honorable; therefore death is not evil.

That which exercises reason is more excellent than that which does not exercise reason; there is nothing more excellent than the universe, therefore the universe exercises reason.

Fate is the endless chain of causation, whereby things are; the reason or formula by which the world goes on.

Steel your sensibilities, so that life shall hurt you as little as possible.

All things are parts of one single system, which is called nature; the individual life is good when it is in harmony with nature.

A bad feeling is a commotion of the mind repugnant to reason, and against nature.