Quote collection
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"Though others before him had triumphed three times, Pompeius, by having gained his first triumph over Libya, his second over Europe, and this the last over Asia, seemed in a manner to have brought the whole world into his three triumphs."
"Alexander wept when he heard from Anaxarchus that there was an infinite number of worlds; and his friends asking him if any accident had befallen him, he returns this answer: "Do you not think it a matter worthy of lamentation that when there is such a vast multitude of them, we have not yet conquered one?"
"Most people do not understand until old age what Plato tells them when they are young."
"Our nature holds so much envy and malice that our pleasure in our own advantages is not so great as our distress at others'."
"From Themistocles began the saying, "He is a second Hercules.""
"He is a fool who leaves things close at hand to follow what is out of reach."
"That we may consult concerning others, and not others concerning us."
"There is no perfecter endowment in man than political virtue."
"Talkativeness has another plague attached to it, even curiosity; for praters wish to hear much that they may have much to say."
"To conduct great matters and never commit a fault is above the force of human nature."
"An old doting fool, with one foot already in the grave."
"Nor is drunkenness censured for anything so much as its intemperate and endless talk."
"For the rich men without scruple drew the estate into their own hands, excluding the rightful heirs from their succession; and all the wealth being centred upon the few, the generality were poor and miserable. Honourable pursuits, for which there was no longer leisure, were neglected; the state was filled with sordid business, and with hatred and envy of the rich."
"Books delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, and join with us in a living and intense intimacy."
"There were two brothers called Both and Either; perceiving Either was a good, understanding, busy fellow, and Both a silly fellow and good for little, Philip said, "Either is both, and Both is neither."
"To one that promised to give him hardy cocks that would die fighting, "Prithee," said Cleomenes, "give me cocks that will kill fighting."
"When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but he that saith it never heard the sound of trumpets."
"Aristodemus, a friend of Antigonus, supposed to be a cook's son, advised him to moderate his gifts and expenses. "Thy words," said he, "Aristodemus, smell of the apron."
"Demosthenes, when taunted by Pytheas that all his arguments "smelled of the lamp," replied, "Yes, but your lamp and mine, my friend, do not witness the same labours."
"Lampis, the sea commander, being asked how he got his wealth, answered, "My greatest estate I gained easily enough, but the smaller slowly and with much labour."