All men have their frailties; and whoever looks for a friend without imperfections, will never find what he seeks.

Do not suppose, my dearest sons, that when I have left you I shall be nowhere and no one. Even when I was with you, you did not see my soul, but knew that it was in this body of mine from what I did. Believe then that it is still the same, even though you see it not.

In my experience, men who respond to good fortune with modesty and kindness are harder to find than those who face adversity with courage.

Success always calls for greater generosity - though most people, lost in the darkness of their own egos, treat it as an occasion for greater greed. Collecting boot is not an end itself, but only a means for building an empire. Riches would be of little use to us now - except as a means of winning new friends.

Even if the skies were shorter than my knees, I would not kneel.

I am Cyrus, king of the world.

All men have their frailties; and whoever looks for a friend without imperfections, will never find what he seeks.