A courageous person is one who faces fearful things as he ought and as reason directs for the sake of what is noble.

Try is a noisy way of doing nothing.

We, on the other hand, must take for granted that the things that exist by nature are, either all or some of them, in motion.

All three states - the Lacedaemonian, the Cretan, and the Carthaginian - nearly resemble one another, and are very different from any others. Many of the Carthaginian institutions are excellent. The superiority of their constitution is proved by the fact that the common people remains loyal to the constitution; the Carthaginians have never had any rebellion worth speaking of, and have never been under the rule of a tyrant.

There is always something new coming out of Africa.

Human beings are curious by nature.

Tragedy is an imitation not only of a complete action, but of events inspiring fear and pity. Such an effect is best produced when the events come on us by surprise; and the effect is heightened when, at the same time, they follow as cause and effect. The tragic wonder will then be great than if they happened of themselves or by accident; for even coincidences are most striking when they have an air of design.