You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one.

– Henry David Thoreau

What an investor needs is the ability to correctly evaluate selected businesses. Note that word “selected”: You don’t have to be an expert on every company, or even many. You only have to be able to evaluate companies within your circle of competence. The size of that circle is not very important; knowing its boundaries, however, is vital.

– Warren Buffett

The essence of power, even in a democracy, is to use violence to protect the republic.

– Michael Ignatieff

Of the three main activities involved in scientific research, thinking, talking and doing, I much prefer the last and am probably best at it. I am all right at the thinking, but not much good at the talking.

– Fred Sanger

Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.

– Winston Churchill

It is hard to think that a $2 billion company with 4,300-plus people couldn’t compete with six people in blue jeans.

– Steve Jobs

The Constitution has been reared for immortality, if the work of a man may justly aspire to such a title. It may, nevertheless, perish in an hour by the folly, or corruption, or negligence of its only keepers, The People. Republics are created by the virtue, public spirit, and intelligence of the citizens. They fall, when the wise are banished from the public councils, because they dare to be honest, and the profligate are rewarded, because they flatter the people in order to betray them.

– Joseph Story

Worldly wisdom teaches that it is better for reputation to fail conventionally than to succeed unconventionally.

– John Maynard Keynes

Most of what we say and do is not essential. Eliminate it, you’ll have more time and more tranquility. Ask yourself, is this necessary.

– Marcus Aurelius