Quote collection
1.1K quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.
"What if a man save my life with a draught that was prepared to poison me? The providence of the issue does not at all discharge the obliquity of the intent. And the same reason holds good even in religion itself. It is not the incense, or the offering that is acceptable to God, but the purity and devotion of the worshipper."
"Modesty once extinguished knows not how to return."
"Nature does not turn out her work according to a single pattern; she prides herself upon her power of variation."
"No one can hold absolute power for long, controlled power endures."
"The declaration of love may come sooner than expected. Take time before you reciprocate as this may simply be a statement of what they expect from you."
"Who shrinks from knowledge of his calamities but aggravates his fear; troubles half seen, shall torture all the more."
"Choose as a guide one whom you will admire more when you see him act than when you hear him speak."
"He may as well not thank at all, who thanks when none are by."
"He invites the commission of a crime who does not forbid it, when it is in his power to do so."
"The fortune of war is always doubtful."
"No man is born wise; but wisdom and virtue require a tutor; though we can easily learn to be vicious without a master."
"We are born to lose and to perish, to hope and to fear, to vex ourselves and others; and there is no antidote against a common calamity but virtue; for the foundation of true joy is in the conscience."
"Men love their vices and hate them at the same time."
"Human nature is so constituted that insults sink deeper than kindnesses; the remembrance of the latter soon passes away, while that of the former is treasured in the memory."
"Humanity is fortunate, because no man is unhappy except by his own fault."
"That which has been endured with difficulty is remedied with delight."
"It takes the whole of life to learn how to live, and - even more surprising - it takes the whole of life to learn how to die."
"It is man's duty to live in conformity with the divine will, and this means, firstly, bringing his life into line with 'nature's laws', and secondly, resigning himself completely and uncomplainingly to whatever fate may send him. Only by living thus, and not setting too high a value on things which can at any moment be taken away from him, can he discover that true, unshakeable peace and contentment to which ambition, luxury and above all avarice are among the greatest obstacles."
"Nothing is more disgraceful than that an old man should have nothing to show to prove that he has lived long, except his years."
"The mind makes the nobleman, and uplifts the lowly to high degree."