No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

The renown which riches or beauty confer is fleeting and frail mental excellence is a splendid and lasting possession.

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

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

All men who would surpass the other animals should do their best not to pass through life silently like the beasts whom nature made prone, obedient to their bellies.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

If fortune makes a wicked man prosperous and a good man poor, there is no need to wonder. For the wicked regard wealth as everything, the good as nothing. And the good fortune of the bad cannot take away their badness, while virtue alone will be enough for the good.