Take the case of just actions; just punishments and chastisements do indeed spring from a good principle, but they are good only because we cannot do without them - it would be better that neither individuals nor states should need anything of the sort - but actions which aim at honor and advantage are absolutely the best. The conditional action is only the choice of a lesser evil; whereas these are the foundation and creation of good. A good man may make the best even of poverty and disease, and the other ills of life.

Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is nature's way.

Every realm of nature is marvelous.

The ideal man is his own best friend and takes delight in privacy.

Through discipline comes freedom.

All food must be capable of being digested, and that what produces digestion is warmth; that is why everything that has soul in it possesses warmth.