“Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.”

I bend but do not break.

A hungry stomach cannot hear.

Lynx-eyes toward our equals, and moles to ourselves.

Alas! we see that the small have always suffered for the follies of the great.

Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.

Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.

In short, luck’s always to blame.

The ruins of a house may be repaired; why cannot those of the face?

Our condition never satisfies us; the present is always the worst. Though Jupiter should grant his request to each, we should continue to importune him.

Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.

No favor can win gratitude from a cat.

Too many expedients may spoil an affair.

Sensible people find nothing useless.

It is said, that the thing you possess is worth more than two you may have in the future. The one is sure and the other is not.

Dressed in the lion’s skin, the ass spread terror far and wide.

There is no road of flowers leading to glory.

The Alliance for Progress is an alliance between one millionaire and many beggars.

For one who knows me, I am one with him; for one who wants to know me, I am very near to him; and for one who does not know me, I am a beggar before him.

Make of the Silence your to-do tasks, of the compassion your wealth and of the meditation your beggar’s bowl.

All true language is incomprehensible, like the chatter of a beggar’s teeth.

Love is bitter and all there is, and that the rest is for the emotional beggars of the earth.

Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.

In ease of body, peace of mind, all the different ranks of life are nearly upon a level and the beggar who suns himself by the side of the highway, possesses that security which kings are fighting for.

Modesty is of no use to a beggar.