To be bodily tranquil, to speak little, and to digest without effort are absolutely necessary to grandeur of mind or of presence, or to proper development of genius. Balzac.
To be born in a duck's nest in a farmyard is of 10 no consequence to a bird if it is hatched from a swan's egg. Hans Andersen.
To be born with a silver spoon in the mouth. Pr.
To be borne seems to many ever more kingly than to bear; and a ship carried with the breeze is, in their eyes, a lordlier spectacle than when it stands against it, victoriously braving it. Ed.
To be disobedient through temptation is human sin; but to be disobedient for the sake of disobedience, fiendish sin. To be obedient for the sake of success in conduct is human virtue; to be obedient for the sake of obedience, angelic virtue. Ruskin.
To be ever beloved, one must be ever agreeable. Lady Montagu.
To be free is not to do nothing, but to be the 15 sole arbiter of what we do and what we leave undone. La Bruyère.
To be good and disagreeable is high treason against the royalty of virtue. Hannah More.
To be great is to be misunderstood. Emerson.
To be great one must be positive, and gain strength through foes. Donn Piatt.