The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy but where are they.

Vultures are the most righteous of birds: they do not attack even the smallest living creature.

It is a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against another man’s oration, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in it’s place is a work extremely troublesome.

An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.

I am all that hath been, and is, and shall be; and my veil no mortal has hitherto raised.

While Leonidas was preparing to make his stand, a Persian envoy arrived. The envoy explained to Leonidas the futility of trying to resist the advance of the Great King’s army and demanded that the Greeks...

Can you really ask what reason Pythagoras had for abstaining from flesh? For my part I rather wonder both by what accident and in what state of soul or mind the first man did so,...

But being overborne with numbers, and nobody daring to face about, stretching out his hands to heaven, [Romulus] prayed to Jupiter to stop the army, and not to neglect but maintain the Roman cause, now...

[Theseus] soon found himself involved in factions and troubles; those who long had hated him had now added to their hatred contempt; and the minds of the people were so generally corrupted, that, instead of...

What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.

These things sensibly affected Theseus, who, thinking it but just not to disregard, but rather partake of, the sufferings of his fellow citizens, offered himself for one without any lot. All else were struck with...

Neither blame or praise yourself.

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.

A mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be lighted.

He who least likes courting favour, ought also least to think of resenting neglect; to feel wounded at being refused a distinction can only arise from an overweening appetite to have it.

Silence at the proper season is wisdom, and better than any speech.

Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.

Antipater, in a letter written upon the death of Aristotle, the philosopher, observes, “Amongst his other gifts he had that of persuasiveness”; and the absence of this in the character of Marcius made all his...

The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled.

When a man’s eyes are sore his friends do not let him finger them, however much he wishes to, nor do they themselves touch the inflammation: But a man sunk in grief suffers every chance...

So long as he was personally present, [Alcibiades] had the perfect mastery of his political adversaries; calumny only succeeded in his absence.

I don’t need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better.

But the Lacedaemonians, who make it their first principle of action to serve their country’s interest, know not any thing to be just or unjust by any measure but that.

But virtue, by the bare statement of its actions, can so affect men’s minds as to create at once both admiration of the things done and desire to imitate the doers of them. The goods...

L’amicizia è animale da compagnia, non da gregge.

For there is no virtue, the honor and credit for which procures a man more odium than that of justice; and this, because more than any other, it acquires a man power and authority among...

It’s a thing of no great difficulty to raise objections against another man’s oration, it is a very easy matter; but to produce a better in its place is a work extremely troublesome.

Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause.

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.

The superstitious man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist does not, but fears to disbelieve in them.