You are mistaken, my friend, if you think that a man who is worth anything ought to spend his time weighing up the prospects of life and death. He has only one thing to consider in performing any action - that is, whether he is acting rightly or wrongly, like a good man or a bad one.

I am about to die, and that is the hour in which men are gifted with prophetic power.

The poets are nothing but interpreters of the gods, each one possessed by the divinity to whom he is in bondage.

Don't ask a poet to explain himself. He cannot.

All men are by nature equal, made all of the same earth by one Workman; and however we deceive ourselves, as dear unto God is the poor peasant as the mighty prince.

Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatness and wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside, cities will never have rest from their evils - no, nor the human race, as I believe - and then only will this our State have a possibility of life and behold the light of day.

Enjoy life. There's plenty of time to be dead. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.