Greatness of spirit is to bear finely both good fourtune and bad, honor and disgrace, and not to think highly of luxury or attention or power or victories in contests, and to possess a certain depth and magnitude of spirit.

There is simple ignorance, which is the source of lighter offenses, and double ignorance, which is accompanied by a conceit of wisdom.

In inventing a model we may assume what we wish, but should avoid impossibilities.

The life of children, as much as that of intemperate men, is wholly governed by their desires.

There must be in prudence also some master virtue.

Nature creates nothing without a purpose.

Where some people are very wealthy and others have nothing, the result will be either extreme democracy or absolute oligarchy, or despotism will come from either of those excesses.