The Gods being good and making all things, there is no positive evil, it only comes by absence of good; just as darkness itself does not exist, but only comes about by absence of light.

To someone seeking power, the poorest man is the most useful.

Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.

Deliberate before you begin; but, having carefully done so, execute with vigour.

But at power or wealth, for the sake of which wars, and all kinds of strife, arise among mankind, we do not aim; we desire only our liberty, which no honorable man relinquishes but with his life.

The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.

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.