“In the ideal State laws are few and simple, because they have been derived from certainties. In the corrupt State laws are many and confused, because they have been derived from uncertainties.”

Call no man happy until he is dead.

If things are going well, religion and legislation are beneficial; if not, they are of no avail.

No fool can be silent at a feast.

For often evil men are rich, and good men poor; But we will not exchange with them Our virtue for their wealth since one abides always, While riches change their owners every day.

Angels are winged with God’s power.

Justice, even if slow, is sure.

As I grow older, I constantly learn more.

Wealth I desire to have; but wrongfully to get it, I do not wish.

Pure chastity is beauty to our souls, grace to our bodies, and peace to our desires.

To make an empire durable, the magistrates must obey the laws and the people the magistrates.

Let no man be called happy before his death. Till then, he is not happy, only lucky.

In all things let reason be your guide.

True blessedness consisteth in a good life and a happy death.

No more good must be attempted than the nation can bear.

Watch well each separate citizen, Lest having in his heart of hearts A secret spear, one still may come Saluting you with cheerful face, And utter with a double tongue The feigned good wishes of his wary mind.

Men keep their agreements when it is an advantage to both parties not to break them; and I shall so frame my laws that it will be evident to the Athenians that it will be for their interest to observe them.

Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm.

Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths that are revealed. They are entirely different things.

It’s just funny that Americans have to contend with 2000 channels, and 60 different specific news sources, and the confusion that it creates, and the junk that we get to see is hilarious.

We’re all looking for love, in our confusion, until we find our way back to the realization that love is what we already are.

It’s good that it hurts. Pain is the signal that you’re confused, that you’re in a lie.

There is a world of created beings – living things, animals, entelechies, and souls – in the least part of matter…. Thus there is nothing waste, nothing sterile, nothing dead in the universe; no chaos, no confusions, save in appearance.

I’m confused. Really, really confused.

There is nothing waste, nothing sterile, nothing dead in the universe; no chaos, no confusions, save in appearance.