Precepts or maxims are of great weight and a few useful ones on hand do more to produce a happy life than the volumes we can't find.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the significance of simple and practical principles in leading a happy life. It suggests that having a few valuable precepts or guiding principles at our disposal holds more importance than possessing numerous volumes of knowledge that we cannot easily access or apply. In essence, it encourages prioritizing practical wisdom and understanding over an abundance of theoretical knowledge that may not prove beneficial in our day-to-day lives.