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One believes in what one wants to believe in.

Demosthenes

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

Act Fools Greatness Rush Success
By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.
DEMOSTHENES

Excellence Hard Work Persistence
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
The end of wisdom is consultation and deliberation.
DEMOSTHENES

Consult End Wisdom
It is not possible to found a lasting power upon injustice, perjury, and treachery.
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Injustice Possible Power
All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.
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Accompany Action Empty Speech
Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.
DEMOSTHENES

Action Greatness Man Success Tendency
Whatever shall be to the advantage of all, may that prevail!
DEMOSTHENES

Advantage Existence Prevail
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
We believe whatever we want to believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Willing
No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.
DEMOSTHENES

Friendship Himself Man Willing
Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.
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Freedom Safety State
Small opportunities often presage great enterprises.
DEMOSTHENES

Greatness Opportunity Small
He who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred and to talk of it, is little different from reproach.
DEMOSTHENES

Different Favor Forget Himself Reminder Talk

One believes in what one wants to believe in.

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One believes in what one wants to believe in.

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