Freedom is a man's natural power of doing what he pleases, so far as he is not prevented by force or law.

The contemplation of celestial things will make a man both speak and think more sublimely and magnificently when he descends to human affairs.

Lay down this rule of friendship: neither ask nor consent to do what is wrong. The plea, 'for friendship's sake,' is a discreditable one, and should not be admitted for a moment. We should ask from friends and do for friends only what is good.

The following passage is one of those cited by Copernicus himself in his preface to De Revolutionibus: "The Syracusan Hicetas, as Theophrastus asserts, holds the view that the heaven, sun, moon, stars, and in short all of the things on high are stationary, and that nothing in the world is in motion except the earth, which by revolving and twisting round its axis with extreme velocity produces all the same results as would be produced if the earth were stationary and the heaven in motion. . . ."

They are eloquent who can speak low things acutely, and of great things with dignity, and of moderate things with temper.

The leaders should all relate to this principle: the governed must be as happy as possible.

It is a crime to put a Roman citizen in chains, it is an enormity to flog one, sheer murder to slay one: what, then, shall I say of crucifixion? It is impossible to find the word for such an abomination.