Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy.

You cannot make a crab walk straight.

Shall I crack any of those old jokes, master, At which the audience never fail to laugh?

You vote yourselves salaries out of the public funds and care only for your own personal interests; hence the state limps along.

Words give wings to the mind and make a man soar to heaven.

You're mistaken; men of sense often learn much from their enemies. Prudence is the best safeguard. This principle cannot be learnt from a friend: but an enemy extorts it immediately. It is from their foes and not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war. And this lesson saves their children, their homes, and their properties.

How can I study from below, that which is above?