Neither rings, bright chains, nor bracelets, perfumes, flowers, nor well-trimmed hair, Grace a man like polished language, th' only jewel he should wear.

Trees bend low with ripened fruit; clouds hang down with gentle rain; noble people bow graciously. This is the way of generous things.

The moth unwitting rushes on the fire, Through ignorance the fish devours the bait, We men know well the foes that lie in wait, Yet cannot shun the meshes of desire.

Knowledge is wonderful and truth serene But man in their service bleeds.

There is no medicine to cure a fool!

A good man may fall, but he falls like a ball [and rebounds]; the ignoble man falls like a lump of clay.

Even the severed branch grows again, and the sunken moon returns: wise men who ponder this are not troubled in adversity.

Three courses open lie to wealth, to give, enjoy, or lose, Who shrinketh from the former two, perforce the third doth choose.

Idleness is a great enemy to mankind. There is no friend like energy, for, if you cultivate that, it will never fail.

Kindness can turn the bad man's heart, and fools convert to wise, Make poison into nectar-juice, and friends of enemies.

The pearl on my beloved's neck, Afflicted sore the oyster!

I don't think sleeping with you is going to solve anything, " she said, stopping at the guest bedroom door."I don't really care what you think.

If we truly knew someone's entire life story and all the things they have been through we would drop all jealousy and comparison. We would admire their ability to shine.

Cynicism can blind one to subtler virtues

believe that giving up is the same thing as being realistic.

The most striking feature of contemporary culture is the unslaked craving for transcendence.

Sometimes love does not have the most honorable beginnings, and the endings, the endings will break you in half. It's everything in between we live for.

Cucumber and bergamot," Clary said. "Is there anything else you hate that I ought to know about?" Jace looked at Dorothea over the rim of his teacup. "Liars," he said.

Churches are not the kingdom of God, but are primary and inevitable expressions, outposts, and instrumentalities of presence of the kingdom among us. They are 'societies' of Jesus.

All this is, is a nine hundred dollar hammer.

Wars and revolutions and battles are due simply and solely to the body and its desires.