No man's abilities are so remarkably shining as not to stand in need of a proper opportunity.

Compassion and shame come over one who considers how precarious is the origin of the proudest of living beings: often the smell of a lately extinguished lamp is enough to cause a miscarriage. And to think that from such a frail beginning a tyrant or butcher may be born! You who trust in your physical strength, who embrace the gifts of fortune and consider yourself not their ward but their son, you who have a domineering spirit, you who consider yourself a god as soon as success swells your breast, think how little could have destroyed you!

This only is certain, that there is nothing certain.

In wine there is health (In vino sanitas)

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand; and through the lust of human wit obscure things are more easily credited.

Our civilization depends largely on paper.

Let not things, because they are common, enjoy for that the less share of our consideration.