You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit.

Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.

The fact speak for themselves.

All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.

As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.

Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states.

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.

The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.

To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.

What we wish, that we readily believe.

The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.

Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.

No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.

Every dictator is an enemy of freedom, an opponent of law.

I am a citizen of the world.

There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.

Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.

Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.

What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.

The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots - suspicion.

The easiest thing of all is to deceive ones self for what a man wishes he generally believes to be true.