Even honor and virtue make enemies, condemning, as they do, their opposites by too close a contrast.

The principal office of history I take to be this: to prevent virtuous actions from being forgotten, and that evil words and deeds should fear an infamous reputation with posterity.

The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.

Keen at the start, but careless at the end.

This I regard as history's highest function, to let no worthy action be uncommemorated, and to hold out the reprobation of posterity as a terror to evil words and deeds.

Conspicuous by his absence.

It is not becoming to grieve immoderately for the dead.