Great Throughts Treasury

"Dear youths, I warn you cherish peace divine."

"Declining from the public ways, walk in unfrequented paths."

"Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers."

"Disbelieve nothing wonderful concerning the gods, nor concerning divine dogmas."

"Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done."

"Dispose thy Soul to all good and necessary things!"

"Do not eat your heart."

"Do not let sleep close your tired eyes until you have three times gone over the events of the day. 'What did I do wrong? What did I accomplish? What did I fail to do that I should have done?' Starting from the beginning, go through to the end. Then, reproach yourself for the things you did wrong, and take pleasure in the good things you did."

"Do not talk a little on many subjects, but much on a few. [Do not say a little in many words but a great deal in a few.]"

"Each celestial body, in fact each and every atom, produces a particular sound on account of its movement, its rhythm or vibration. All these sounds and vibrations form a universal harmony in which each element, while having its own function and character, contributes to the whole."

"Do nothing evil, neither in the presence of others, nor privately."

"Don't eat your heart."

"Eat not the heart. [Do not eat your heart.]"

"Eat not the brain. [Do not eat your brain.]"

"Educate the children and it won't be necessary to punish the men."

"Evil destroyeth itself."

"Envy has been, is, and shall be, the destruction of many. What is there, that Envy hath not defamed, or Malice left undefiled? Truly, no good thing."

"Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life."

"For as long as man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seeds of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."

"Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods."

"He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods."

"Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants."

"Happy is that City that hath a wise man to govern it."

"Hear gladly!"

"He is worst of all that is malicious against his friends."

"Hearing and keeping silence, you become a wise man. The beginning of wisdom is silence."

"Holding fast to these things, you will know the worlds of gods and mortals which permeates and governs everything. And you will know, as is right, nature similar in all respects, so that you will neither entertain unreasonable hopes nor be neglectful of anything."

"If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death."

"Honor Wisdom; and deny it not to them that would learn; and shew it unto them that dispraise it! Sow not the sea fields!"

"It is better to suffer, than to do wrong."

"In this theater of man's life, it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers-on."

"In anger we should refrain both from speech and action."

"It is not proper either to have a blunt sword or to use freedom of speech ineffectually."

"If thy fellows hurt thee in small things, suffer it! and be as bold with them!"

"If thou intend to do any good; tarry not till to-morrow! for thou knowest not what may chance thee this night."

"It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good."

"It is difficult to walk at one and the same time many paths of life."

"It is the same danger to give a mad person a sword and a dishonest person a power."

"It is requisite to choose the most excellent life; for custom will make it pleasant. Wealth is an infirm anchor, glory is still more infirm; and in a similar manner, the body, dominion, and honour. For all these are imbecile and powerless. What then are powerful anchors. Prudence, magnanimity, fortitude. These no tempest can shake. This is the Law of God, that virtue is the only thing that is strong; and that everything else is a trifle."

"Know that death comes to everyone, and that wealth will sometimes be acquired, sometimes lost. Whatever griefs mortals suffer by divine chance, whatever destiny you have, endure it and do not complain. But it is right to improve it as much as you can, and remember this: Fate does not give very many of these griefs to good people."

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"Let no man either by his words, or by his deeds, ever seduce you. [Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you.]"

"Let thy mind rule thy tongue!"

"Let not sleep e'er close thy eyes without thou ask thyself: What have I omitted and what done? Abstain thou if 'tis evil; persevere if good. [Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day. Where have I turned aside from rectitude? What have I been doing? What have I left undone, which I ought to have done? Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good.]"

"Life looks like a theater, where very bad people take the best places."

"Man know thyself; then thou shalt know the Universe and God."

"Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained. If a lie is told, bear with it gently. But whatever I tell you, let it be done completely. Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you."

"Most men and women, by birth or nature, lack the means to advance in wealth or power, but all have the ability to advance in knowledge."

"Neither is the sun to be taken from the world, nor freedom of speech from erudition. When a reasonable Soul forsaketh his divine nature, and becometh beast-like, it dieth. For though the substance of the Soul be incorruptible: yet, lacking the use of Reason, it is reputed dead; for it loseth the Intellective Life."

"Meditate upon my counsels; love them; follow them; to the divine virtues will they know how to lead thee. I swear it by the One who in our hearts engraved the sacred Tetrad, symbol immense and pure, Source of Nature and model of the Gods."