The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor; it is the one thing that cannot be learned from others; and it is also a sign of genius, since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity of the dissimilar.

To the size of the state there is a limit, as there is to plants, animals and implements, for none of these retain their facility when they are too large.

Wit is educated insolence.

Whereas the law is passionless, passion must ever sway the heart of man.

A poet's object is not to tell what actually happened but what could or would happen either probably or inevitably.... For this reason poetry is something more scientific and serious than history, because poetry tends to give general truths while history gives particular facts.

Whereas young people become accomplished in geometry and mathematics, and wise within these limits, prudent young people do not seem to be found. The reason is that prudence is concerned with particulars as well as universals, and particulars become known from experience, but a young person lacks experience, since some length of time is needed to produce it.

Two characteristic marks have above all others been recognized as distinguishing that which has soul in it from that which has not - movement and sensation.