Let us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us; and endeavor to excel them, by avoiding what is faulty, and imitating what is excellent in them.
An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.
The whole life of man is but a point of time let us enjoy it.
The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.
To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.
Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks.
To find fault is easy; to do better may be difficult.
When the candles are out all women are fair.
We ought not to treat living creatures like shoes or household belongings, which when worn with use we throw away.
Nothing is harder to direct than a man in prosperity; nothing more easily managed that one is adversity.
Neither blame or praise yourself.
Philosophy is the art of living.
Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.
Medicine to produce health must examine disease; and music, to create harmony must investigate discord.
Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly.
Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.
Rest is the sweet sauce of labor.
It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt.
The wildest colts make the best horses.
If I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.
No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.
Fate leads him who follows it, and drags him who resist.
To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days.
Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself.
A few vices are sufficient to darken many virtues.
I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod my shadow does that much better.
The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education.
Painting is silent poetry.
Moral habits, induced by public practices, are far quicker in making their way into men's private lives, than the failings and faults of individuals are in infecting the city at large.
Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause.
For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is at least human.
Courage stands halfway between cowardice and rashness, one of which is a lack, the other an excess of courage.
Character is long-standing habit.
Water continually dropping will wear hard rocks hollow.
When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door.
Those who aim at great deeds must also suffer greatly.
A sage thing is timely silence, and better than any speech.
It is indeed a desirable thing to be well-descended, but the glory belongs to our ancestors.
The omission of good is no less reprehensible than the commission of evil.
An old doting fool with one foot already in the grave.
No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.
The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.
All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.
Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.
In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker.
It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.
