Plato divinely calls pleasure the bait of evil, inasmuch as men are caught by it as fish by a hook.
It shows a weak mind not to bear prosperity as well as adversity with moderation.
I prefer silent prudence to loquacious folly.
He who hangs on the errors of the ignorant multitude, must not be counted among great men.
The rabble estimate few things according to their real value, most things according to their prejudices.
As thou sowest, so shalt thou reap.
Inhumanity is harmful in every age. – Inhumanitas omni aetate molesta est.
Certain signs precede certain events.
The recovery of freedom is so splendid a thing that we must not shun even death when seeking to recover it.
If nature does not ratify law, then all the virtues may lose their sway.
An ancient custom obtains force of nature.
Everyone cleaves to the doctrine he has happened upon, as to a rock against which he has been thrown by tempest.
The illustrious and noble ought to place before them certain rules and regulations, not less for their hours of leisure and relaxation than for those of business.
A good man will not lie, although it be for his profit.
Wisdom is the only thing which can relieve us from the sway of the passions and the fear of danger, and which can teach us to bear the injuries of fortune itself with moderation, and which shows us all the ways which lead to tranquility and peace.
What times! What manners!
For what is there more hideous than avarice, more brutal than lust, more contemptible than cowardice, more base than stupidity and folly?
That, Senators, is what a favour from gangs amounts to. They refrain from murdering someone; then they boast that they have spared him!
Can you also, Lucullus, affirm that there is any power united with wisdom and prudence which has made, or, to use your own expression, manufactured man? What sort of a manufacture is that? Where is it exercised? when? why? how?
The world has not yet learned the riches of frugality.