“It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others.”

Even for learned men, love of fame is the last thing to be given up.

We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.

Following Emporer Nero’s command, “Let the Christians be exterminated!:” . . . they [the Christians] were made the subjects of sport; they were covered with the hides of wild beasts and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights.

There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive.

Flatterers are the worst kind of enemies. [Lat., Pessimum genus inimicorum laudantes.]

No one in Germany laughs at vice, nor do they call it the fashion to corrupt and to be corrupted.

Fear is not in the habit of speaking truth; when perfect sincerity is expected, perfect freedom must be allowed; nor has anyone who is apt to be angry when he hears the truth any cause to wonder that he does not hear it.

They terrify lest they should fear.

That cannot be safe which is not honourable.

The desire of glory is the last infirmity cast off even by the wise.

Bottling up his malice to be suppressed and brought out with increased violence.

We accomplish more by prudence than by force. [Lat., Plura consilio quam vi perficimus.]

A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.

Deos fortioribus adesse. The gods support those who are stronger.

The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair through fear alone. [Lat., Fortes et strenuos etiam contra fortunam insistere, timidos et ignoros ad desperationem formidine properare.]

I looked up my family tree and found three dogs using it.

Circumstances which we have resented, situations which we have found desperately difficult.

I found a greater identity with my own emotions in the Armenian culture as I grew older.

I have always found that actively loving saves one from a morbid preoccupation with the shortcomings of society.

I found out the hard way that if we don’t disciple people, the culture sure will.

Such is O’Brian’s power to possess the imagination that I found I was living in his world as much as my own, wanting to know what happens next.

And in [my] view it is just as likely that the discrimination we found has always been there, or that it is spurious, as that IRCA has caused it.’

I don’t talk very well. With writing, you’ve time to get it right. Also I’ve found the more I talk the less I write, and if I didn’t write no one would want me to talk anyway.