All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.
SALLUSTAmbition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.
More Sallust Quotes
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In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.
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Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.
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To like and dislike the same things that is indeed true friendship.
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In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.
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Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.
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Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.
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Fortune rules in all things, and advances and depresses things more out of her own will than right and justice.
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Small endeavours obtain strength by unity of action: the most powerful are broken down by discord.
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It is impossible that there should be so much providence in the last details, and none in the first principles. Then the arts of prophecy and of healing, which are part of the cosmos, come of the good providence of the Gods.
SALLUST -
Since we have received everything from the Gods, and it is right to pay the giver some tithe of his gifts, we pay such a tithe of possessions in votive offering, of bodies in gifts of (hair and) adornment, and of life in sacrifices.
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It is sweet to surve one country by deeds, and it is not absurd to surve her by words.
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One can ever assume to be what he is not, and to conceal what he is.
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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.
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Sovereignty is easily preserved by the very arts by which it was originally created. When, however, energy has given place to indifference, and temperance and justice to passion and arrogance, then as the morals change so changes fortune.
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For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.
SALLUST