1. Never, ever, rush.

2. Always have an ulterior motive; it helps avoid disappointment.

3. Never underestimate the stupidity of people.

4. All memories are fundamentally bad.

5. History is the most important of subjects, because it gives everything else its context.

6. There is no room for low self-esteem once you realise you are a unique and unrepeatable creation.

7. Do to others as you would have them do to you, but do not expect reciprocal grace.

8. Others may give offence, but you do not have to take offence.

9. Let no person narrow and degrade your soul by making you hate them.

10. Love is a verb, not a noun.

11. A person who is nice to you, but nasty to the waiter, is not a nice person.

12. Gratitude is the inverse of bitterness.

13. Life is about choices. You always have a choice, even if it is between do something or do nothing.

14. You are not a victim of an environment. You are a product of your own choices in response to that environment.

15. There is no such thing as luck. Luck is where preparation meets opportunity.

16. The enemy of the best is often the good.

17. There is no such thing as a stupid question; but there are stupid answers.