Knavery is the best defense against a knave.
The crowns of kings do not prevent those who wear them from being tormented sometimes by violent headaches.
When I myself had twice or thrice made a resolute resistance unto anger, the like befell me that did the Thebans; who, having once foiled the Lacedaemonians (who before that time had held themselves invincible), never after lost so much as one battle which they fought against them.
Hesiod might as well have kept his breath to cool his pottage.
Fate, however, is to all appearance more unavoidable than unexpected.
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality.