The meaning of words had no longer the same relation to things... Reckless daring was held to be loyal courage; prudent delay was the excuse of a coward; moderation was the disguise of unmanly weakness; to know everything was to do nothing. Frantic energy was the true quality of man.

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.

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

You should punish in the same manner those who commit crimes with those who accuse falsely.

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

I think the two things most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usaully goes hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.

An avowal of poverty is no disgrace to any man; to make no effort to escape it is indeed disgraceful.