Dreams in general take their rise from those incidents which have most occupied the thoughts during the day.

We are less convinced by what we hear than by what we see.

Force has no place where there is need of skill.

One should always look to the end of everything, how it will finally come out. For the god has shown blessedness to many only to overturn them utterly in the end.

The Persians are very fond of wine ... It is also their general practice to deliberate upon affairs of weight when they are drunk; and then in the morning, when they are sober, the decision to which they came the night before is put before them by the master of the house in which it was made; and if it is then approved they act on it; if not, they set it aside. Sometimes, however, they are sober at their first deliberations, but in this case they always reconsider the matter under the influence of wine.

Many exceedingly rich men are unhappy, but many middling circumstances are fortunate.

All men's gains are the fruit of venturing.