The rulers of the state are the only persons who ought to have the privilege of lying, either at home or abroad; they may be allowed to lie for the good of the state.

[M]ere knowledge of the truth will not give you the art of persuasion.

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

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.

Those who reproach injustice do so because they are afraid not of doing it but of suffering it.

I do believe that there are gods, and in a far higher sense than that in which any of my accusers believe in them.

Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow... even if that someone is yourself!