An imbalance between rich and poor is the oldest and most fatal ailment of all republics.

Seeing the lightest and gayest purple was then most in fashion, he would always wear that which was the nearest black; and he would often go out of doors, after his morning meal, without either shoes or tunic; not that he sought vain-glory from such novelties, but he would accustom himself to be ashamed only of what deserves shame, and to despise all other sorts of disgrace.

Lamentation is the only musician that always, like a screech-owl, alights and sits on the roof of any angry man.

Lying is a most disgraceful vice; it first despises God, and then fears men.

No man ever wetted clay and then left it, as if there would be bricks by chance and fortune.

Let us carefully observe those good qualities wherein our enemies excel us; and endeavor to excel them, by avoiding what is faulty, and imitating what is excellent in them.

He (Cato) never gave his opinion in the Senate upon any other point whatever, without adding these words, "And, in my opinion Carthage should be destroyed." ["Delenda est Carthago."]