Quotes to inspire and reflect

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

Not every difficult and dangerous thing is suitable for training, but only that which is conducive to success in achieving the object of our effort.

Difficulties are things that show a person what they are.

If one oversteps the bounds of moderation, the greatest pleasures cease to please.

Neither should a ship rely on one small anchor, nor should life rest on a single hope.

If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid.

The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it.

If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself, if it be a lie, laugh at it.

You are a little soul carrying around a corpse.

All religions must be tolerated, for every man must get to heaven in his own way.

To accuse others for one's own misfortunes is a sign of want of education. To accuse oneself shows that one's education has begun. To accuse neither oneself nor others shows that one's education is complete.

It takes more than just a good looking body. You've got to have the heart and soul to go with it.

Be careful to leave your sons well instructed rather than rich, for the hopes of the instructed are better than the wealth of the ignorant.

First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.

Nothing great is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig. I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.

People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.

Is freedom anything else than the right to live as we wish? Nothing else.

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak.

Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.

The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best.

There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.

It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.

The sun too penetrates into privies, but is not polluted by them.

There is only a finger's difference between a wise man and a fool.

The vine bears three kinds of grapes: the first of pleasure, the second of intoxication, the third of disgust.

It takes a wise man to discover a wise man.

Of what use is a philosopher who doesn't hurt anybody's feelings?

Blushing is the color of virtue.

I threw my cup away when I saw a child drinking from his hands at the trough.

The mob is the mother of tyrants.

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?

As a matter of self-preservation, a man needs good friends or ardent enemies, for the former instruct him and the latter take him to task.

Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.

The great thieves lead away the little thief.

I do not know whether there are gods, but there ought to be.

Calumny is only the noise of madmen.

No man is hurt but by himself.

Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.

I know nothing, except the fact of my ignorance.

When I look upon seamen, men of science and philosophers, man is the wisest of all beings; when I look upon priests and prophets nothing is as contemptible as man.

Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.

He has the most who is most content with the least.

Dogs and philosophers do the greatest good and get the fewest rewards.

We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less.

What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.