“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
“This is your business—to act well the given part, but to choose it belongs to another.”
“Only consider at what price you sell your own will: if for no other reason, at least for this, that you sell it not for a small sum.”
“Make it your goal never to fail in your desires or experience things you would rather avoid; try never to err in impulse and repulsion; aim to be perfect also in the practice of attention and withholding judgment.”
“From this instant, then, choose to act like the worthy and capable person you are. Follow unwaveringly what reason tells you is the best course.”
“You are the one who knows yourself - which is to say, you know how much you are worth in your own estimation, and therefore at what price you will sell yourself; because people sell themselves at different rates.”
“When you make a decision, make sure you are not doing it out of habit. Make sure it is the right decision based on the current situation.”
“If a man makes a decision without listening to both sides, he is unjust, even if his ruling is a fair one.”
“After friendship is formed you must trust, but before that you must judge.”
“Everyone prefers belief to the exercise of judgement.”