Old age is but a second childhood.

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.

Let each man exercise the art he knows.

Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever.

A man's homeland is wherever he prospers.

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.

The truth is forced upon us, very quickly, by a foe.