Money was intended to be used in exchange, but not to increase at interest. And this term interest, which means the birth of money from money, is applied to the breeding of money because the offspring resembles the parent. Wherefore of all modes of getting wealth this is the most unnatural.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

Of actions some aim at what is necessary and useful, and some at what is honorable. And the preference given to one or the other class of actions must necessarily be like the preference given to one or other part of the soul and its actions over the other; there must be war for the sake of peace, business for the sake of leisure, things useful and necessary for the sake of things honorable.

Quite often good things have hurtful consequences. There are instances of men who have been ruined by their money or killed by their courage.

Law is order, and good law is good order.

In general, what is written must be easy to read and easy to speak; which is the same.

Where the laws are not supreme, there demagogues spring up.