It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.
The higher your station, the less your liberty.
In my own case, who have spent my whole life in the practice of virtue, right conduct from habitual has become natural.
Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.
There were few who preferred honor to money.
Sovereignty is easily preserved by the very arts by which it was originally created. When, however, energy has given place to indifference, and temperance and justice to passion and arrogance, then as the morals change so changes fortune.