Bowmen bend their bows when they wish to shoot: unbrace them when the shooting is over. Were they kept always strung they would break and fail the archer in time of need. So it is with men. If they give themselves constantly to serious work, and never indulge awhile in pastime or sport, they lose their senses and become mad.

Where even a falsehood must be told, let it be told.

The wooden wall alone should remain unconquered.

Let there be nothing untried; for nothing happens by itself, but men obtain all things by trying.

The most hateful grief of all human griefs is to have knowledge of a truth, but no power over the event.

There is nothing more foolish, nothing more given to outrage than a useless mob.

It is the gods' custom to bring low all things of surpassing greatness.