There are three kinds of minds: first those that attain insight and understanding of things by their own means, then those that recognize what is right when others explain it to them, and finally those that are capable of neither one nor the other.

For this is the tragedy of man circumstances change, but he does not.

He who builds on the people, builds on the mud

He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his.

Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.

Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.