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

When malice is joined to envy, there is given forth poisonous and feculent matter, as ink from the cuttle-fish.

For there is no virtue, the honour and credit for which procures a man more odium from the elite than that of justice; and this, because more than any other, it acquires a man power and authority among the common people. For they only honour the valiant and admire the wise, while in addition they also love just men, and put entire trust and confidence in them.

Courage and wisdom are, indeed, rarities amongst men, but of all that is good, a just man it would seem is the most scarce.

The wildest colts make the best horses.

Of all the disorders in the soul, envy is the only one no one confesses to.

So very difficult a matter is it to trace and find out the truth of anything by history.