The real difference between democracy and oligarchy is poverty and wealth. Wherever men rule by reason of their wealth, whether they be few or many, that is an oligarchy, and where the poor rule, that is a democracy.

The beginning of reform is not so much to equalize property as to train the noble sort of natures not to desire more, and to prevent the lower from getting more.

It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.

The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival.

Thus then a single harmony orders the composition of the whole...by the mingling of the most contrary principles.

All men by nature desire knowledge.

Money is a guarantee that we can have what we want in the future