Whenever you can, act as a liberator. Freedom, dignity, wealth - these three together constitute the greatest happiness of humanity. If you bequeath all three to your people, their love for you will never die.

O man, whoever you are and wherever you come from, for I know you will come, I am Cyrus who won the Persians their empire. Do not therefore begrudge me this bit of earth that covers my bones.

A man's enjoyment of all good things is in exact proportion to the pains he has undergone to gain them.

I am Cyrus, king of the world.

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

Diversity in counsel, unity in command.

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.