Rains driven by storms fall not perpetually on the land already sodden, neither do varying gales for ever disturb the Caspian sea.

Nothing is swifter than rumor.

Whoever cultivates the golden mean avoids both the poverty of a hovel and the envy of a palace.

Gold loves to make its way through guards, and breaks through barriers of stone more easily than the lightning's bolt.

Man learns more readily and remembers more willingly what excites his ridicule than what deserves esteem and respect.

He wears himself out by his labours, and grows old through his love of possessing wealth.

How great, my friends, is the virtue of living upon a little!