Wisdom Quotes, page 127

“I remember my mother's prayers, and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”

“My friends, I now leave you, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance, I cannot fail.”

“If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.”

“A friend is one who has the same enemies as you have.”

“It is my pleasure that my children are free and happy, and unrestrained by parental tyranny. Love is the chain whereby to bind a child to its parents.”

“Love is the chain whereby to bind a child to its parents.”

“A woman is the only thing I am afraid of that I know will not hurt me.”

“Lonely men seek companionship. Lonely women sit at home and wait. They never meet.”

“Nothing is impossible to the one who will try.”

“If friendship is your weakest point, then you are the strongest person in the world.”

“Don't judge a man by the size of his ego or his heart, but by the epicness of his beard and the beautiful woman on his arm.”

“Allow me to assure you that suspicion and jealousy never helped any man in any situation.”

“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.”

“Whatever possession we gain by our sword cannot be sure or lasting, but the love gained by kindness and moderation is certain and durable.”

“I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent than in the extent of my power and dominion.”

“I am indebted to my father for living, but to my teacher for living well.”

“Let us conduct ourselves so that all men wish to be our friends and all fear to be our enemies.”

“Through every generation of the human race there has been a constant war: a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it are made free; those who are conquered by it suffer until they find the courage to defeat it, or death takes them.”

“For my part, I would rather excel in the knowledge of the highest secrets of philosophy than in arms.”

“There is something noble in hearing myself ill spoken of when I am doing well.”

“Not every light is the sun.”

“As for a limit to one's labors, I do not recognize any for a high-minded man, except that the labors themselves should lead to noble accomplishments.”

“How can a man groom his horse or polish his spear and helmet if he grows unaccustomed to tending his own person, his most treasured possession?”

“Who does not desire such a victory by which we shall join places in our Kingdom, so far divided by nature, and for which we shall set up trophies in another conquered world?”

“Now that the wars are coming to an end, I wish you to prosper in peace. May all mortals from now on live like one people in concord and for mutual advancement. Consider the world as your country, with laws common to all and where the best will govern irrespective of tribe. I do not distinguish among men, as the narrow-minded do, both among Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the descent of the citizens or their racial origins. I classify them using one criterion: their virtue. For me every virtuous foreigner is a Greek and every evil Greek is worse than a barbarian. If differences ever develop between you, never have recourse to arms, but solve them peacefully. If necessary, I should be your arbitrator.”

“Now you fear punishment and beg for your lives. I will let you go — not out of pity, but so you can see the difference between a Greek king and a barbarian tyrant. Do not expect to suffer harm from me. A king does not kill messengers.”

“When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never take back.”

“If I were not Alexander, I should wish to be Diogenes.”

“For as a newborn babe cannot be nourished without the nurse's milk, nor conducted to the approaches that lead to growth in life, so a city cannot thrive without fields and the fruits thereof pouring into its walls.”

“How great are the dangers I face to win a good name in Athens.”