Courage is the first virtue that makes all other virtues possible.
The so-called Pythagoreans, who were the first to take up mathematics, not only advanced this subject, but saturated with it, they fancied that the principles of mathematics were the principles of all things.
It was through the feeling of wonder that men now and at first began to philosophize.
It is through wonder that men now begin and originally began to philosophize; wondering in the first place at obvious perplexities, and then by gradual progression raising questions about the greater matters too.
The senses are gateways to the intelligence. There is nothing in the intelligence which did not first pass through the senses.
In a race, the quickest runner can never overtake the slowest, since the pursuer must first reach the point whence the pursued started, so that the slower must always hold a lead.
Let us first understand the facts and then we may seek the cause.
Before you heal the body you must first heal the mind.
Man first begins to philosophize when the necessities of life are supplied.
The first principle of all action is leisure.
No science ever defends its first principles.
Comedy has had no history, because it was not at first treated seriously.
When a new truth enters the world, the first stage of reaction to it is ridicule, the second stage is violent opposition, and in the third stage, that truth comes to be regarded as self-evident.
Animals hear about death for the first time when they die.
First the truth is ridiculed. Then it meets outrage. Then it is said to have been obvious all along.
The first rule for a good style is to have something to say; in fact, this in itself is almost enough.
A good supply of resignation is of the first importance in providing for the journey of life.
There are three stages in the revelation of truth. The first is to be ridiculed, the second is to be resisted and the third is to be considered self-evident.
Every original idea is first ridiculed, then vigorously attacked, and finally taken for granted.
We may divide thinkers into those who think for themselves and those who think through others. The latter are the rule and the former the exception. The first are original thinkers in a double sense, and egotists in the noblest meaning of the word.