For grief is felt not so much for the want of what we have never known, as for the loss of that to which we have been long accustomed.

She is best who is least spoken of among men, whether for good or evil.

Not to be able to bear poverty is a shameful thing, but not to know how to chase it away by work is a more shameful thing yet.

A woman's greatest glory is to be little talked about by men, whether for good or ill.

I am of opinion that national greatness is more for the advantage of private citizens, than any individual well-being coupled with public humiliation. A man may be personally ever so well off, and yet if his country be ruined he must be ruined with it; whereas a flourishing commonwealth always affords chances of salvation to unfortunate individuals.

An Athenian citizen does not neglect his state because he takes care of his own household; even those of us who are engaged in business have a very fair idea of politics. We do not regard a man who takes no interest in public affairs as harmless. We do not say that such a man 'minds his own business'. Rather we say he has no business here at all.

For a man's counsel cannot have equal weight or worth, when he alone has no children to risk in the general danger.