We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.
For men who had easily endured hardship, danger and difficult uncertainty, leisure and riches, though in some ways desirable, proved burdensome and a source of grief.
No grief reaches the dead.
One may call the world a myth , in which bodies and things are visible, but souls and minds hidden. Besides, to wish to teach the whole truth about the Gods to all produces contempt in the foolish, because they cannot understand, and lack of zeal in the good, whereas to conceal the truth by myths prevents the contempt of the foolish, and compels the good to practice philosophy.
All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.
He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.
Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.
There were few who preferred honor to money.
The fame which is based on wealth or beauty is a frail and fleeting thing; but virtue shines for ages with undiminished lustre.
The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.
Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light
It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.
It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are notnecessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.
For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.
The higher your station, the less your liberty.
No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.
They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.
Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.
In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.
Greedy for the property of others, extravagant with his own
The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.
By the wicked the good conduct of others is always dreaded.
Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.
But assuredly Fortune rules in all things; she raised to eminence or buries in oblivion everything from caprice rather than from well-regulated principle. [Lat., Sed profecto Fortuna in omni re dominatur; ea res cunctas ex lubidine magis, quam ex vero, celebrat, obscuratque.]
No one has become immortal by sloth; nor has any parent prayed that his children should live forever; but rather that they should lead an honorable and upright life. [Lat., Ignavia nemo immortalis factus: neque quisquam parens liberis, uti aeterni forent, optavit; magis, uti boni honestique vitam exigerent.]
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