Rome was in the most dangerous inclination to change on account of the unequal distribution of wealth and property, those of highest rank and greatest spirit having impoverished themselves by shows, entertainments, ambition of offices, and sumptuous buildings, and the riches of the city having thus fallen into the hands of mean and low-born persons. So that there wanted but a slight impetus to set all in motion, it being in the power of every daring man to overturn a sickly commonwealth.

A fool cannot hold his tongue.

Moral good is a practical stimulus; it is no sooner seen than it inspires an impulse to practice.

Cato requested old men not to add the disgrace of wickedness to old age, which was accompanied with many other evils.

The superstitious man wishes he did not believe in gods, as the atheist does not, but fears to disbelieve in them.

Nature without learning is like a blind man; learning without Nature, like a maimed one; practice without both, incomplete. As in agriculture a good soil is first sought for, then a skilful husbandman, and then good seed; in the same way nature corresponds to the soil, the teacher to the husbandman, precepts and instruction to the seed.

Character is inured habit.