Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
The old proverb was now made good, "the mountain had brought forth a mouse.
The measure of a man's life is the well spending of it, and not the length.
Oh, what a world full of pain we create, for a little taste upon the tongue.
Lying is a most disgraceful vice; it first despises God, and then fears men.
He is a fool who leaves things close at hand to follow what is out of reach.
Prosperity is no just scale; adversity is the only balance to weigh friends.
These Macedonians are a rude and clownish people; they call a spade a spade.
Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.
The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.
Apothegms are the most infallible mirror to represent a man truly what he is.
The first evil those who are prone to talk suffer, is that they hear nothing.
Water and our necessary food are the only things that wise men must fight for.
It is a true proverb, that if you live with a lame man, you will learn to limp.
When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door.
Lysander said that the law spoke too softly to be heard in such a noise of war.
It is part of a good man to do great and noble deeds, though he risk everything.
For to err in opinion, though it be not the part of wise men, is at least human.
Alexander esteemed it more kingly to govern himself than to conquer his enemies.
Pythias once, scoffing at Demosthenes, said that his arguments smelt of the lamp.
In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker.
Pompey bade Sylla recollect that more worshipped the rising than the setting sun.
I confess myself the greatest coward in the world, for I dare not do an ill thing.
No beast is more savage than man when possessed with power answerable to his rage.
Learn to be pleased with everything...because it could always be worse, but isn't!
Zeno first started that doctrine, that knavery is the best defence against a knave.
A prating barber asked Archelaus how he would be trimmed. He answered, "In silence."
He who reflects on another man's want of breeding, shows he wants it as much himself
As Meander says, "For our mind is God;" and as Heraclitus, "Man's genius is a deity."
To conduct great matters and never commit a fault is above the force of human nature.
Nor is drunkenness censured for anything so much as its intemperate and endless talk.
It is a difficult task, O citizens, to make speeches to the belly, which has no ears.
Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny.
Most people do not understand until old age what Plato tells them when they are young.
It is a hard matter, my fellow citizens, to argue with the belly, since it has no ears.
I do not think that shoemaker a good workman that makes a great shoe for a little foot.
Friendship is the most pleasant of all things, and nothing more glads the heart of man.
So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history.
The ripeness of adolescence is prodigal in pleasures, skittish, and in need of a bridle.
Concerning the dead nothing but good shall be spoken. [Lat., De mortuis nil nisi bonum.]
I am all that hath been, and is, and shall be; and my veil no mortal has hitherto raised.
A friend should be like money, tried before being required, not found faulty in our need.
Pythagoras, when he was asked what time was, answered that it was the soul of this world.
The human heart becomes softened by hearing of instances of gentleness and consideration.
An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.
Were it only to learn benevolence to humankind, we should be merciful to other creatures.
King Agis said, "The Lacedæmonians are not wont to ask how many, but where the enemy are."
When another is asked a question, take special care not to interrupt to answer it yourself.
The poor go to war, to fight and die for the delights, riches, and superfluities of others.
No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.
Courage consists not in hazarding without fear; but being resolutely minded in a just cause.