Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
I have heard that Tiberius used to say that that man was ridiculous, who after sixth years, appealed to a physician.
Even a nod from a person who is esteemed is of more force than a thousand arguments or studied sentences from others.
It is no flattery to give a friend a due character; for commendation is as much the duty of a friend as reprehension.
Cato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.
All men whilst they are awake are in one common world: but each of them, when he is asleep, is in a world of his own.
Plato used to say to Xenocrates the philosopher, who was rough and morose, "Good Xenocrates, sacrifice to the Graces.
Grief is like a physical pain which must be allowed to subside somewhat on its own before medical treatment is applied.
Immoderate grief is selfish, harmful, brings no advantage to either the mourner or the mourned, and dishonors the dead.
Spintharus, speaking in commendation of Epaminondas, says he scarce ever met with any man who knew more and spoke less.
Phocion compared the speeches of Leosthenes to cypress-trees. "They are tall," said he, "and comely, but bear no fruit."
When Demosthenes was asked what were the three most important aspects of oratory, he answered, 'Action, Action, Action.'
To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days.
...To the Dolphin alone, beyond all other, nature has granted what the best philosophers seek: friendship for no advantage
Our senses through ignorance of Reality, falsely tell us that what appears to be, is. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real
Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.
Nature without learning is blind, learning apart from nature is fractional, and practice in the absence of both is aimless.
Pittacus said, "Every one of you hath his particular plague, and my wife is mine; and he is very happy who hath this only".
Our nature holds so much envy and malice that our pleasure in our own advantages is not so great as our distress at others'.
It does not follow, that because a particular work of art succeeds in charming us, its creator also deserves our admiration.
A soldier told Pelopidas, "We are fallen among the enemies." Said he, "How are we fallen among them more than they among us?"
Talkativeness has another plague attached to it, even curiosity; for praters wish to hear much that they may have much to say.
To make no mistakes is not in the power of man; but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future.
As soft wax is apt to take the stamp of the seal, so are the minds of young children to receive the instruction imprinted on them.
Demosthenes overcame and rendered more distinct his inarticulate and stammering pronunciation by speaking with pebbles in his mouth.
A Spartan woman, as she handed her son his shield, exhorted him saying, "As a warrior of Sparta come back with your shield or on it."
Justice makes the life of such as are in prosperity, power and authority the life of a god, and injustice turns it to that of a beast.
Books delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, and join with us in a living and intense intimacy.
Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.
Let a prince be guarded with soldiers, attended by councillors, and shut up in forts; yet if his thoughts disturb him, he is miserable.
It were better to have no opinion of God at all than such a one as is unworthy of him; for the one is only belief - the other contempt.
When one is transported by rage, it is best to observe attentively the effects on those who deliver themselves over to the same passion.
To one that promised to give him hardy cocks that would die fighting, "Prithee," said Cleomenes, "give me cocks that will kill fighting.
Children are to be won to follow liberal studies by exhortations and rational motives, and on no account to be forced thereto by whipping.
Why does pouring Oil on the Sea make it Clear and Calm? Is it that the winds, slipping the smooth oil, have no force, nor cause any waves?
Speech is like cloth of Arras opened and put abroad, whereby the imagery doth appear in figure; whereas in thoughts they lie but as packs.
Agesilaus being invited once to hear a man who admirably imitated the nightingale, he declined, saying he had heard the nightingale itself.
Children ought to be led to honorable practices by means of encouragement and reasoning, and most certainly not by blows and ill treatment.
When Demaratus was asked whether he held his tongue because he was a fool or for want of words, he replied, "A fool cannot hold his tongue.
Man is neither by birth nor disposition a savage, nor of unsocial habits, but only becomes so by indulging in vices contrary to his nature.
Grief is natural; the absence of all feeling is undesirable, but moderation in grief should be observed, as in the face of all good or evil.
There are two sentences inscribed upon the Ancient oracle... "Know thyself" and "Nothing too much"; and upon these all other precepts depend.
One made the observation of the people of Asia that they were all slaves to one man, merely because they could not pronounce that syllable No.
So long as he was personally present, [Alcibiades] had the perfect mastery of his political adversaries; calumny only succeeded in his absence.
Let us not wonder if something happens which never was before, or if something doth not appear among us with which the ancients were acquainted.
Men who marry wives very much superior to themselves are not so truly husbands to their wives as they are unawares made slaves to their position.
Both Empedocles and Heraclitus held it for a truth that man could not be altogether cleared from injustice in dealing with beasts as he now does.
There is no stronger test of a person's character than power and authority, exciting as they do every passion, and discovering every latent vice.
Wickedness is a wonderfully diligent architect of misery, of shame, accompanied with terror, and commotion, and remorse, and endless perturbation.
Cicero called Aristotle a river of flowing gold, and said of Plato's Dialogues, that if Jupiter were to speak, it would be in language like theirs.
For man is a plant, not fixed in the earth, nor immovable, but heavenly, whose head, rising as it were from a root upwards, is turned towards heaven.