Small endeavours obtain strength by unity of action: the most powerful are broken down by discord.

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.

For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.

Of the bodies in the cosmos, some imitate mind and move in orbits; some imitate soul and move in a straight line, fire and air upward, earth and water downward.

Souls that have lived in virtue are in general happy, and when separated from the irrational part of their nature, and made clean from all matter, have communion with the gods and join them in the governing of the whole world. Yet even if none of this happiness fell to their lot, virtue itself, and the joy and glory of virtue, and the life that is subject to no grief and no master are enough to make happy those who have set themselves to live according to virtue and have achieved it.

In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.

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.