For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours.

It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position.

He passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.

For men naturally despise those who court them, but respect those who do not give way to them.

And it is certain that those who do not yield to their equals, who keep terms with their superiors, and are moderate towards their inferiors, on the whole succeed best.

For the love of gain would reconcile the weaker to the dominion of the stronger, and the possession of capital enabled the more powerful to reduce the smaller cities to subjection.