The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be; all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them.

Regard your good name as the richest jewel you can possibly be possessed of -- for credit is like fire; when once you have kindled it you may easily preserve it, but if you once extinguish it, you will find it an arduous task to rekindle it again. The way to a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.

The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.

...[T]he really important thing is not to live, but to live well... [a]nd to live well means the same thing as to live honourably or rightly...

I only wish that ordinary people had an unlimited capacity for doing harm; then they might have an unlimited power for doing good.

No evil can happen to a good man, either in life or after death. He and his are not neglected by the gods.