You are providing for your disciples a show of wisdom without the reality. For, acquiring by you means much information unaided by instruction, they will appear to possess much knowledge, while, in fact, they will, for the most part, know nothing at all; and, moreover, be disagreeable people to deal with, as having become wise in their own conceit, instead of truly wise.

Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love.

Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults.

The hour of departure has arrived, and we go our ways - I to die, and you to live. Which is better God only knows.

Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.

Having the fewest wants, I am nearest to the gods.

Children nowadays are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.

I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.

By all means marry; if you get a good wife you’ll become happy; if you get a bad one you’ll become a philosopher .

Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.