Quotations and Poems

» Absence » “Greater things are believed of those who are absent.”

» Adversity » “Many who seem to be struggling with adversity are happy; many, amid great affluence, are utterly miserable.”

» Adversity » “We see many who are struggling against adversity who are happy, and more although abounding in wealth, who are wretched.”

» Age and Aging » “Old things are always in good repute, present things in disfavor.”

» Assassination » “A shocking crime was committed on the unscrupulous initiative of few individuals, with the blessing of more, and amid the passive acquiescence of all.”

» Character » “Noble character is best appreciated in those ages in which it can most readily develop.”

» Charm » “Things forbidden have a secret charm.”

» Charm » “Things forbidden have a secret charm.”

» Cities and City Life » “All things atrocious and shameless flock from all parts to Rome.”

» Courage » “If we must fall, we should boldly meet the danger.”

» Courage » “The brave and bold persist even against fortune; the timid and cowardly rush to despair though fear alone.”

» Critics and Criticism » “Abuse if you slight it, will gradually die away; but if you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.”

» Cycles » “In all things there is a law of cycles.”

» Empire » “To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire; and where they make a wilderness, they call it peace.”

» Expediency » “Custom adapts itself to expediency.”

» Fame » “The love of fame is the last weakness which even the wise resign.”

» Family » “The hatred of relatives is the most violent.”

» Fear » “Even the bravest men are frightened by sudden terrors.”

» Guilt » “Seek to make a person blush for their guilt rather than shed their blood.”

» Hatred » “It is a weakness of your human nature to hate those whom you have wronged.”

» Health » “All bodies are slow in growth but rapid in decay.”

» Inheritance » “Those in supreme power always suspect and hate their next heir.”

» Law and Lawyers » “In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous.”

» Law and Lawyers » “The more corrupt the state, the more laws.”

» Leaders and Leadership » “No one would have doubted his ability to reign had he never been emperor.”

» Leaders and Leadership » “Reason and judgment are the qualities of a leader.”

» Misfortunes » “Prosperity is the measure or touchstone of virtue, for it is less difficult to bear misfortune than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.”

» Misfortunes » “It is less difficult to bear misfortunes than to remain uncorrupted by pleasure.”

» Moderation » “Candor and generosity, unless tempered by due moderation, leads to ruin.”

» Modesty » “When a woman has lost her chastity she will shrink from nothing.”

» Opinions » “Things are not to be judged good or bad merely because the public think so.”

» Past » “Posterity will pay everyone their due.”

» Peace » “They make a wilderness and call it peace.”

» Posterity » “Posterity gives every man his true value.”

» Prudence » “All enterprises that are entered into with indiscreet zeal may be pursued with great vigor at first, but are sure to collapse in the end.”

» Scarcity » “Forbidden things have a secret charm.”

» Security » “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.”

» Soldier » “So, as you go into battle, remember your ancestors and remember your descendants.”

» Taxes and Taxation » “The repose of nations cannot be secure without arms. Armies cannot be maintained without pay, nor can the pay be produced without taxes.”

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