Desires are only the lack of something: and those who have the greatest desires are in a worse condition than those who have none, or very slight ones.

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

A good man cannot be harmed either in life or in death, and his affairs are not neglected by the gods.

Rhythm and harmony enter most powerfully into the inner most part of the soul and lay forcible hands upon it, bearing grace with them, so making graceful him who is rightly trained.

A tyrant... is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.

Remember our words, then, and whatever is your aim let virtue be the condition of the attainment of your aim, and know that without this all possessions and pursuits are dishonourable and evil.

Love is of something, and that which love desires is not that which love is or has; for no man desires that which he is or has. And love is of the beautiful, and therefore has not the beautiful. And the beautiful is the good, and therefore, in wanting and desiring the beautiful, love also wants and desires the good.