There is a thing which is to no purpose done on the earth: that there are good men to whom is given the same punishment as those who are evil, and there are evil men who get the reward of the good. I say that this again is to no purpose.

Wisdom is better than instruments of war, but one sinner is the destruction of much good.

I am certain that there is nothing better for a man than to be glad, and to do good while life is in him.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their work.

If a man has a hundred children, and his life is long so that the days of his years are great in number, but his soul takes no pleasure in good, and he is not honoured at his death; I say that a birth before its time is better than he.

A good name is better than oil of great price, and the day of death than the day of birth.