Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.
— Sallust
He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed.
Before you act, consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act.
Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.
In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.
It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.
Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.
Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master.
The higher your station, the less your liberty.
Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.
He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.
Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.
Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.
No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.
All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.
The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.
Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible.
Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.
They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.
No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.
Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure.
To like and dislike the same things, this is what makes a solid friendship.
Necessity makes even the timid brave.
All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.
Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.
As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.
In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.
Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised.
In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.
In my own case, who have spent my whole life in the practice of virtue, right conduct from habitual has become natural.
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.
The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.
A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.
Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself.
By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.
We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.
Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.
Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.
The glory that goes with wealth is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.
