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Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.

Demosthenes

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Easy General Man True
The more able a man is, if he make ill use of his abilities, the more dangerous will he be to the commonwealth.
DEMOSTHENES

Ability Common Dangerous Man
Everything great is not always good, but all good things, are great.
DEMOSTHENES

Appearance Goodness Greatness
Nothing is so easy as to deceive oneself; for what we wish, we readily believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Deceive Easy One Liner
Clouds cannot cover secret places, nor denials conceal truth.
DEMOSTHENES

Cloud Place Secret Truth
It is not possible to found a lasting power upon injustice, perjury, and treachery.
DEMOSTHENES

Injustice Possible Power
Great and unexpected successes are often the cause of foolish rushing into acts of extravagance.
DEMOSTHENES

Act Fools Greatness Rush Success
There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots – suspicion.
DEMOSTHENES

Guard Known Safety Suspicious
We believe whatever we want to believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Willing
All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.
DEMOSTHENES

Accompany Action Empty Speech
Do you remember that in classical times when Cicero had finished speaking, the people said, “How well he spoke” but when Demosthenes had finished speaking, they said, “Let us march.
DEMOSTHENES

Ourselves People Talk Time
Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
DEMOSTHENES

Beginning Enterprise Opportunity Small
The sower of the seed is assuredly the author of the whole harvest of mischief.
DEMOSTHENES

Author Harvest Mischief Sow Story
Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.
DEMOSTHENES

Freedom Safety State
The readiest and surest way to get rid of censure, is to correct ourselves.
DEMOSTHENES

Correct Ourselves Ready Way
As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.
DEMOSTHENES

Crack Fools Known Sound Wisdom

Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.

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Nothing is so easy as to deceive one’s self; for what we wish, that we readily believe; but such expectations are often inconsistent with the real state of things.

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Popular Authors

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