They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are notnecessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.

The glory of wealth and of beauty is fleeting and frail; virtue is illustrious and everlasting.

Souls are punished when they have gone forth from the body, some wandering among us, some going to hot or cold places of the earth, some harassed by spirits. Under all circumstances they suffer with the irrational part of their nature, with which they also sinned. For its sake there subsists that shadowy body which is seen about graves, especially the graves of evil livers.

To have the same desires and the same aversion is assuredly a firm bond of friendship.

It is sweet to surve one country by deeds, and it is not absurd to surve her by words.

In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.