The cause of all these evils was the lust for power arising from greed and ambition; and from these passions proceeded the violence of parties once engaged in contention.

Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

For they had learned that true safety was to be found in long previous training, and not in eloquent exhortations uttered when they were going into action.

A private man, however successful in his own dealing, if his country perish is involved in her destruction; but if he be an unprosperous citizen of a prosperous city, he is much more likely to recover. Seeing, then, that States can bear the misfortunes of individuals, but individuals cannot bear the misfortunes of States, let us all stand by our country.

Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.

The sufferings that fate inflicts on us should be borne with patience, what enemies inflict with manly courage.