It is the nature of the wise to resist pleasures, but the foolish to be a slave to them.


~ Epictetus





Anyone who seeks to destroy the passions instead of controlling them is trying to play the angel.


~ Voltaire







The superior man thinks always of virtue; the common man thinks of comfort.


~ Confucius







Because people have no thoughts to deal in, they deal cards, and try and win one another's money. Idiots!


~ Schopenhauer









A man does not serve God when he prays, for it is himself he is trying to serve.

~ Thomas Paine












Study the past, if you would divine the future.


~ Confucius






The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself.

~ Plato



Success has always been a great liar.

~ Nietzsche




Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.

~ Plato