“The renown which riches or beauty confer is fleeting and frail mental excellence is a splendid and lasting possession.”

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.

All men who would surpass the other animals should do their best not to pass through life silently like the beasts whom nature made prone, obedient to their bellies.

The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.

It is always easy to begin a war, but very difficult to stop one.

There were few who preferred honor to money.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

Each man the architect of his own fate.

Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.

Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light.

Before you act consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act.

Everything destroyed is either resolved into the elements from which it came, or else vanishes into not-being. If things are resolved into the elements from which they came, then there will be others: else how did they come into being at all?

Fortune rules in all things, and advances and depresses things more out of her own will than right and justice.

Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.

The higher your station, the less your liberty.

The glory of riches and of beauty is frail and transitory; virtue remains bright and eternal.