“Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.”

Of the bodies in the cosmos, some imitate mind and move in orbits; some imitate soul and move in a straight line, fire and air upward, earth and water downward.

They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.

The very life which we enjoy is short.

For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.

A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.

The glory of ancestors sheds a light around posterity; it allows neither good nor bad qualities to remain in obscurity.

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.

It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are not necessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure.

No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.

But the case has proved that to be true which Appius says in his songs, that each man is the maker of his own fate.

The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.