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A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

Sallust

For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.
SALLUST

Empire Greatness Harmony Small State
The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.
SALLUST

Man Poor Power Seek Useful
The glory of wealth and of beauty is fleeting and frail; virtue is illustrious and everlasting.
SALLUST

Beautiful Glory Illustration Virtue Wealth
Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible.
SALLUST

Hard Work Modesty Possible Talk Yourself
The man who is roused neither by glory nor by danger it is in vain to exhort; terror closes the ears of the mind.
SALLUST

Dangerous Glory Man Mindset Terror
The higher your station, the less your liberty.
SALLUST

High Liberty Station Yourself
There were few who preferred honor to money.
SALLUST

Honor Money Preference
But the case has proved that to be true which Appius says in his songs, that each man is the maker of his own fate.
SALLUST

Creator Fate Man Song True
Fame is the shadow of passion standing in the light.
SALLUST

Fame Light Passion Shadow Stand
We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.
SALLUST

Body Employment Mindset Rule Serve
The fame which is based on wealth or beauty is a frail and fleeting thing; but virtue shines for ages with undiminished lustre.
SALLUST

Age Fame Luster Virtual Wealth
No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.
SALLUST

Best Interest Man Mortal Passion Serve Time
The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.
SALLUST

Friendship Identity Nature
Of the bodies in the cosmos, some imitate mind and move in orbits; some imitate soul and move in a straight line, fire and air upward, earth and water downward.
SALLUST

Body Cosmos Down Imitation Move On Soul Water
It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.
SALLUST

Brave Defeat Himself Human Law Nature Reputation Victory
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.
SALLUST

Cosmos Detail God Healing Impossible Principle
When the prizes fall to the lot of the wicked, you will not find many who are virtuous for virtue’s sake.
SALLUST

Fall Finding Prize Virtue Yourself
Get good counsel before you begin; and when you have decided, act promptly.
SALLUST

Act Counsel Decision Goodness Prompt
Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master.
SALLUST

Desire Liberty Master Men
A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.
SALLUST

Defeat Goodness Justice Man
The Gods being good and making all things, there is no positive evil, it only comes by absence of good; just as darkness itself does not exist, but only comes about by absence of light.
SALLUST

Absence Darkness Existence God Goodness Light Positive
By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.
SALLUST

Destroy Greatness Small State Thrive
Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.
SALLUST

Advice Ancestor Help Light Powerful
No grief reaches the dead.
SALLUST

Death Grief One Liner Reach
Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.
SALLUST

Decay Fall Life Philosophy Rise
A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.
SALLUST

Evil Goodness Justice Man Preference
Prosperity tries the souls even of the wise.
SALLUST

Prosperity Soul Try Wisdom

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

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A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

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