But of the heaven which is above the heavens, what earthly poet ever did or ever will sing worthily?

... Societies aren t made of sticks and stones, but of men whose individual characters, by turning the scale one way or another, determine the direction of the whole.

He who without the Muse's madness in his soul comes knocking at the door of poesy and thinks that art will make him anything fit to be called a poet, finds that the poetry which he indites in his sober senses is beaten hollow by the poetry of madmen.

I prefer nothing, unless it is true.

Self conquest is the greatest of victories.

The philosopher whose dealings are with divine order himself acquires the characteristics of order and divinity.

Any man may easily do harm, but not every man can do good to another.