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

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.

Philosophy is the art of living.

Nothing is cheap which is superfluous, for what one does not need, is dear at a penny.

Where two discourse, if the anger of one rises, he is the wise man who lets the contest fall.

The same intelligence is required to marshal an army in battle and to order a good dinner. The first must be as formidable as possible, the second as pleasant as possible, to the participants.