Few sons are equal to their fathers; most fall short, all too few surpass them.

We cannot all hope to combine the pleasing qualities of good looks, brains, and eloquence.

It is equally bad when one speeds on the guest unwilling to go, and when he holds back one who is hastening. Rather one should befriend the guest who is there, but speed him when he wishes.

If you're gonna get mad at me every time I do something stupid, then I guess I'll just have to stop doing stupid things.

Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.

Why cover the same ground again? ... It goes against my grain to repeat a tale told once, and told so clearly.

Let him submit to me! Only the god of death is so relentless, Death submits to no one—so mortals hate him most of all the gods. Let him bow down to me! I am the greater king, I am the elder-born, I claim—the greater man.