If these town gods can't detect the thieves who steal from their own temples, it's hardly likely they'll tell me who stole my spade.

He that has many friends, has no friends.

Equals make the best friends.

The unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.

There are many statues of men slaying lions, but if only the lions were sculptors there might be quite a different set of statues.

Appearances are often deceiving.

Give assistance, not advice, in a crisis.