From Tartuffe, Phaedra, Candide

Reason is the willingness to consider consequences before we act.

One can find an excuse for almost anything.  Excuses allow us to avoid the truth.

Seek and serve the truth, whether it be internal or external.

Life is ragged, not neat.  Life is lumpy--the lumps are chaos, dilemmas, opportunities.

Character is what one does when no one else is watching.