It is wrong to follow the advice of an adversary; nevertheless it is right to hear it, that you may do the contrary; and this is the essence of good policy.

Two orders of mankind are the enemies of church and state; the king without clemency, and the holy man without learning.

When the belly is empty, the body becomes spirit; and when it is full, the spirit becomes body.

However much you study, you cannot know without action. A donkey laden with books is neither an intellectual nor a wise man. Empty of essence, what learning has he whether upon him is firewood or book?

When a mean wretch cannot vie with another in virtue, out of his wickedness he begins to slander. The abject envious wretch will slander the virtuous man when absent, but when brought face to face his loquacious tongue becomes dumb.

Oh God, I say not hear my prayers! I say: Blot with forgiving pen my sins away!

It's no virtue to gain the whole world. Just gain the heart of one person.