Quotes to inspire and reflect

There is no den in the wide world to hide a rogue. Commit a crime and the earth is made of glass. Commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge, and fox, and squirrel.

He that climbs the tall tree has won right to the fruit.

A little wonton money, which burned out the bottom of his purse.

Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts.

Nature made him, and then broke the mold.

They wonder much to hear that gold, which in itself is so useless a thing, should be everywhere so much esteemed, that even men for whom it was made, and by whom it has its value, should yet be thought of less value than it is.

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.

There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth; but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.

There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, and the third is useless.

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.

A prince should therefore have no other aim or thought, nor take up any other thing for his study but war and it organization and discipline, for that is the only art that is necessary to one who commands.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the marjority of men live content.

Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

Iron rusts from disue; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.

You cannot run away from a weakness; you must sometimes fight it out or perish. And if that be so, why not now, and where you stand?

If the present world go astray, the cause is in you, in you it is to be sought.

Consider your origin; you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge.

A fair request should be followed by the deed in silence.

He listens well who takes notes.

All hope abandon, ye who enter here!

In the middle of the journey of our life I came to myself within a dark wood where the straight way was lost.

I was in love with loving.

Whatever is in any way beautiful hath its source of beauty in itself, and is complete in itself; praise forms no part of it. So it is none the worse nor the better for being praised.

Think not disdainfully of death, but look on it with favor; for even death is one of the things that Nature wills.

How much time he gains who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks, but only at what he does himself, to make it just and holy.

By a tranquil mind I mean nothing else than a mind well ordered.

Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect.

You should pray for a sound mind in a sound body.

The people that once bestowed commands, consulships, legions, and all else, now concerns itself no more, and longs eagerly for just two things - bread and circuses!

Count it the greatest sin to prefer life to honor, and for the sake of living to lose what makes life worth having.

It is not easy for men to rise whose qualities are thwarted by poverty.

What is the first business of one who practices philosophy? To get rid of self-conceit. For it is impossible for anyone to begin to learn that which he thinks he already knows.

When you close your doors, and make darkness within, remember never to say that you are alone, for you are not alone; nay, God is within, and your genius is within. And what need have they of light to see what you are doing?

When the candles are out all women are fair.

Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men.

An old doting fool, with one foot already in the grave.

It is better, ofcours, to know useless things than to know nothing.

You can tell the character of every man when you see how he receives praise.

It is quality rather than quantity that matters.

The best ideas are common property.

He wins every hand who mingles profit with pleasure.

One needs to be slow to form convictions, but once formed they must be defended against the heaviest odds.

The years as they pass plunder us of one thing after another.

It is when I struggle to be brief that I become obscure.

Think to yourself that every day is your last; the hour to which you do not look forward will come as a welcome surprise.

Once a word has been allowed to escape, it cannot be recalled.

The covetous man is ever in want.

He who has begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin!