Bad as any government may be, it is seldom worse than anarchy.
If you are a friend, why do you bite me so hard? If an enemy, why do you fawn on me?
In critical moments even the very powerful have need of the weakest.
The gods help them who help themselves.
The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.
If you wish me well, do not stand pitying me, but lend me some succour as fast as you can; for pity is but cold comfort when one is up to the chin in water, and within a hair's breadth of starving or drowning.