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By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.

Demosthenes

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
We believe whatever we want to believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Willing
We need money, for sure, Athenians, and without money nothing can be done that ought to be done.
DEMOSTHENES

Existence Money Need
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
Nothing is more easy than to deceive one’s self, as our affections are subtle persuaders.
DEMOSTHENES

Affection Deceive Easy Subtle
Clouds cannot cover secret places, nor denials conceal truth.
DEMOSTHENES

Cloud Place Secret Truth
What we wish, that we readily believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Willing
Excessive dealings with tyrants are not good for the security of free states.
DEMOSTHENES

Deal Freedom Goodness State
It is not possible to found a lasting power upon injustice, perjury, and treachery.
DEMOSTHENES

Injustice Possible Power
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.
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Guard Known Safety Suspicious
There is a great deal of wishful thinking in such cases it is the easiest thing of all to deceive ones self.
DEMOSTHENES

Deal Greatness Oneself Thinking
Good fortune is the greatest of blessings, but good counsel comes next, and the lack of it destroys the other also.
DEMOSTHENES

Blessing Destroy Fortune Goodness
The sower of the seed is assuredly the author of the whole harvest of mischief.
DEMOSTHENES

Author Harvest Mischief Sow Story
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
You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man’s actions are, such must be his spirit.
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Action Himself Proud Spirit
Close alliances with despots are never safe for free states.
DEMOSTHENES

Freedom Safety State
Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.
DEMOSTHENES

Issues Judgement Light Past
The man who is in the highest state of prosperity, and who thinks his fortune is most secure, knows not if it will remain unchanged till the evening.
DEMOSTHENES

Change Fortune High Man Prosperity State
The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.
DEMOSTHENES

Necessary People Protection Talk
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
Small opportunities often presage great enterprises.
DEMOSTHENES

Greatness Opportunity Small
To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.
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Goodness Reminder Reproach
Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.
DEMOSTHENES

Beginning Enterprise Opportunity Small
It is the natural disposition of all men to listen with pleasure to abuse and slander of their neighbour, and to hear with impatience those who utter praises of themselves.
DEMOSTHENES

Abuse Impatience Listening Man Natural Pleasure Praise
Everything great is not always good, but all good things, are great.
DEMOSTHENES

Appearance Goodness Greatness
What a man wishes, he will believe.
DEMOSTHENES

Believe Himself Man
Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master
DEMOSTHENES

Anxiety Avoid Beware Master War Yourself

By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.

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By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.

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