When one is transported by rage, it is best to observe attentively the effects on those who deliver themselves over to the same passion.

A Roman divorced from his wife, being highly blamed by his friends, who demanded, "Was she not chaste? Was she not fair? Was she not fruitful?" holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and well made. "Yet," added he, "none of you can tell where it pinches me.''

There is no stronger test of a person's character than power and authority, exciting as they do every passion, and discovering every latent vice.

For it was not so much that by means of words I came to a complete understanding of things, as that from things I somehow had an experience which enabled me to follow the meaning of words.

The belly has no ears.

Poverty is dishonorable, not in itself, but when it is a proof of laziness, intemperance, luxury, and carelessness; whereas in a person that is temperate, industrious, just and valiant, and who uses all his virtues for the public good, it shows a great and lofty mind.

To be ignorant of the lives of the most celebrated men of antiquity is to continue in a state of childhood all our days.