Those are greedy of praise prove that they are poor in merit.

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

So long as he was personally present, [Alcibiades] had the perfect mastery of his political adversaries; calumny only succeeded in his absence.

When the strong box contains no more both friends and flatterers shun the door.

The process may seem strange and yet it is very true. I did not so much gain the knowledge of things by the words, as words by the experience I had of things.

The usual disease of princes, grasping covetousness, had made them suspicious and quarrelsome neighbors.

As small letters hurt the sight, so do small matters him that is too much intent upon them; they vex and stir up anger, which begets an evil habit in him in reference to greater affairs.