Great Throughts Treasury

"In all things there is a law of cycles."

"In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue."

"It belongs to human nature to hate those you have injured. [It is human nature to hate the man whom you have hurt.]"

"Indeed, the crowning proof of their valor and their strength is that they keep up their superiority without harm to others."

"It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure."

"It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks."

"It is found by experience that admirable laws and right precedents among the good have their origin in the misdeeds of others."

"Love of fame is the last thing even learned men can bear to be parted from."

"It is of eloquence as of a flame; it requires matter to feed it, and motion to excite it; and it brightens as it burns."

"Men are more ready to repay an injury than a benefit, because gratitude is a burden and revenge a pleasure."

"Keen at the start, but careless at the end."

"Liberty is given by nature even to mute animals."

"Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable."

"No hatred is so bitter as that of near relations."

"No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor."

"Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop."

"Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor."

"Once killing starts, it is difficult to draw the line."

"One who is allowed to sin, sins less."

"Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader."

"Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood."

"Posterity gives every man his true value."

"The lust of fame is the last that a wise man shakes off."

"Rumor is not always wrong."

"So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most precarious hearsays, others turn facts into falsehood; and both are exaggerated by posterity."

"Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to be wished."

"So obscure are the greatest events, as some take for granted any hearsay, whatever its source, others turn truth into falsehood, and both errors find encouragement with posterity."

"That cannot be safe which is not honorable."

"Some might consider him as too fond of fame; for the desire for glory clings even to the best men longer than any other passion."

"The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone."

"The hatred of those who are near to us is most violent."

"The lust for power, for dominating others, inflames the heart more than any other passion."

"Think of it. Fifteen whole years-no small part of a man"

"There will be vice as long as there are men."

"Things forbidden have a secret charm."

"They have plundered the world, stripping naked the land in their hunger"

"To abandon your shield is the basest of crimes; nor may a man thus disgraced be present at the sacred rites, or enter their council; many, indeed, after escaping from battle, have ended their infamy with the halter."

"To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace. [They plunder, they slaughter, and they steal: this they falsely name Empire, and where they make a wasteland, they call it peace.]"

"Think of your forefathers and posterity."

"Their shields are black, their bodies dyed. They choose dark nights for battle, and, by the dread and it is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks."

"There can never be a complete confidence in a power which is excessive."

"Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir."

"To show resentment at a reproach is to acknowledge that one may have deserved it."

"We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched."

"What is today supported by precedents will hereafter become a precedent."

"Victor and vanquished never unite in substantial agreement."

"Valor is of no service, chance rules all, and the bravest often fall by the hands of cowards."

"Viewed from a distance, everything is beautiful."

"When they make a desolation they call it peace."

"Whatever is unknown is magnified."