Fools call wise men fools. A wise man never calls any man a fool.

The tongue of a fool is the key of his counsel, which, in a wise man, wisdom hath in keeping.

The world is afflicted by death and decay. But the wise do not grieve, having realized the nature of the world.

To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish people are idle, wise people are diligent.

The wise man makes an island of himself that no flood can overwhelm.

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction.