How much better a thing it is to be envied than to be pitied.

the Egyptians were the first to discover the solar year, and to portion out its course into twelve parts both the space of time and the seasons which they delimit. It was observation of the course of the stars which led them to adopt this divisionIt is also the Egyptians who first bought into use the names of the twelve gods, which the Greeks adopted from them

We have two useless gods who never leave our island, but like to dwell in it constantly, Poverty and Helplessness.

The king's might is greater than human, and his arm is very long.

Not snow, no, nor rain, nor heat, nor night keeps them from accomplishing their appointed courses with all speed.

It is said that as many days as there are in the whole journey, so many are the men and horses that stand along the road, each horse and man at the interval of a days journey; and these are stayed neither by snow nor rain nor heat nor darkness from accomplishing their appointed course with all speed.

Very few things happen at the right time, and the rest do not happen at all. The conscientious historian will correct these defects.