Nothing in oratory is more important than to win for the orator the favour of his hearer, and to have the latter so affected as to be swayed by something resembling an impulse of the spirit impetu quodam animi or emotion perturbatione, rather than by judgment or deliberation. For men decide far more problems by hate, or love, or lust, or rage, or sorrow, or joy, or hope, or fear, or illusion, or some other inward emotion aliqua permotione mentis, than by reality or authority, or any legal standard, or judicial precedent or statute.

It is difficult to persuade mankind that the love of virtue is the love of themselves.

Not to know what happened before you were born is to be a child forever. For what is the time of a man, except it be interwoven with that memory of ancient things of a superior age?

The first bond of society is the marriage tie; the next our children; then the whole family of our house, and all things in common.

The world has not yet learned the riches of frugality.

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.

We are all excited by the love of praise, and the noblest are most influenced by glory.