In a democracy, someone who fails to get elected to office can always console himself with the thought that there was something not quite fair about it.

For men can endure to hear others praised only so long as they can severally persuade themselves of their own ability to equal the actions recounted: when this point is passed, envy comes in and with it incredulity.

The peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and the vine.

Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.

In a word I claim that our city as a whole is an education to Greece.

I could have wished that the reputations of many brave men were not to be imperilled in the mouth of a single individual, to stand or fall according as he spoke well or ill. For it is hard to speak properly upon a subject where it is even difficult to convince your hearers that you are speaking the truth.

You can now, if you choose, employ your present success to advantage, so as to keep what you have got and gain honour and reputation besides, and you can avoid the mistake of those who meet with an extraordinary piece of good fortune, and are led on by hope to grasp continually at something further, through having already succeeded without expecting it.