Great Throughts Treasury

"He is not a lover who does not love for ever."

"He is wise that is wise to himself."

"He was a wise man who originated the idea of God."

"He who believes needs no explanation."

"He who best enjoys each passing day is truly blest."

"Heavily armed warrior suffer under the yoke of its weapons, die because his comrades cheese, if they are not of the brave."

"How base a thing it is when a man will struggle with necessity! We have to die."

"Human misery must somewhere have a stop; there is no wind that always blows a storm; great good fortune comes to failure in the end. All is change; all yields its place and goes; to persevere, trusting in what hopes he has, is courage in a man. The coward despairs."

"Humility, a sense of reverence before the sons of heaven — of all the prizes that a mortal man might win, these, I say, are wisest; these are best."

"I begin by taking. I shall find scholars later to demonstrate my perfect right."

"I care for riches, to make gifts to friends, or lead a sick man back to health with ease and plenty. Else small aid is wealth for daily gladness; once a man be done with hunger, rich and poor are all as one."

"I hate it in friends when they come too late to help."

"I have been versed in the reasonings of men."

"I have found power in the mysteries of thought, exaltation in the changing of the Muses; I have been versed in the reasonings of men; but Fate is stronger than anything I have known."

"I hold that mortal foolish who strives against the stress of necessity."

"I know indeed what evil I intend to do, but stronger than all my afterthoughts is my fury, fury that brings upon mortals the greatest evils."

"I loathe a friend ... who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief."

"I loathe a friend whose gratitude grows old, a friend who takes his friend's prosperity but will not voyage with him in his grief"

"I love the old way best, the simple way of poison, where we too are strong as men."

"I sacrifice to no god save myself — And to my belly, greatest of deities."

"I think that fortune watcheth o'er our lives, surer than we. But well said: he who strives will find his goals strive for him equally."

"I think, some shrewd man first, a man in judgment wise, found for mortals the fear of gods, thereby to frighten the wicked should they even act or speak or scheme in secret."

"I understand too well the dreadful act I'm going to commit, but my judgment can't check my anger, and that incites the greatest evils human beings do."

"I would prefer as friend a good man ignorant than one more clever who is evil too."

"I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees."

"If a man rejoice not in his drinking, he is mad; for in drinking it's possible ... to fondle breasts, and to caress well-tended locks, and there is dancing withal, and oblivion of woe."

"If the gods do evil then they are not gods."

"Ignorance of one's misfortunes is clear gain."

"Ill-gotten wealth is never stable."

"Impudence is the worst of all human diseases."

"In adverse hours the friendship of the good shines most; each prosperous day commands its friends."

"In case of dissension, never dare to judge till youÂ’ve heard the other side."

"In just postpone the occurrence of calamities is something of a consolation."

"In life, the worst disasters come from passion."

"In misfortune, which friend remains a friend?"

"In this world second thoughts, it seems, are best."

"It destroys one's nerves to be amiable everyday to the same human being."

"It is a good thing to be rich and strong, but it is a better thing to be loved."

"It is a good thing to be rich, it is a good thing to be strong, but it is a better thing to be beloved of many friends."

"It is behind the evil sought would only cast evil."

"It is change; all yields its place and goes."

"It is in the thirties that we want friends. In the forties we know they won't save us any more than love did."

"It is said that gifts persuade even the gods."

"It is wise to withhold one's heart and mind from men who think themselves superior."

"It was my tongue that swore; my heart is unsworn."

"It's not beauty but fine qualities, my girl, that keep a husband."

"It's the wise man who stays home when he's drunk."

"Joint undertakings stand a better chance when they benefit both sides."

"Judge a tree from its fruit; not from the leaves."

"Know first who you are; and then adorn yourself accordingly."