There is no necessity for the man who means to be an orator to understand what is really just but only what would appear so to the majority of those who will give judgment; and not what is really good or beautiful but whatever will appear so; because persuasion comes from that and not from the truth.

Human behavior flows from three main sources: desire, emotion, and knowledge.

You need some knowledge to recognize knowledge, so where does the first knowledge come from?

Come then, and let us pass a leisure hour in storytelling, and our story shall be the education of our heroes.

Nothing in the affairs of men is worthy of great anxiety.

If we are to keep our flock at the highest pitch of excellence, there should be as many unions of the best of both sexes, and as few of the inferior as possible, and that only the offspring of the better unions should be kept.

Watch a man at play for an hour and you can learn more about him than in talking to him for a year.