No living creature is naturally greedy, except from fear of want – or in the case of human beings, from vanity, the notion that you’re better than people if you can display more superfluous property than they can.
The most part of all princes have more delight in warlike manners and feats of chivalry than in the good feats of peace.
A pretty face may be enough to catch a man, but it takes character and good nature to hold him.
No one, on his deathbed, ever regretted having been a Catholic.
Your friend Plato holds that commonwealths will only be happy when either philosophers rule or rulers philosophize: how remote happiness must appear when philosophers won’t even deign to share their thoughts with kings.
It is naturally given to all men to esteem their own inventions best.
Kindness and good nature unite men more effectually and with greater strength than any agreements whatsoever, since thereby the engagements of men’s hearts become stronger than the bond and obligation of words.
We are all in the same cart, going to execution; how can I hate anyone or wish anyone harm?
One man to live in pleasure and wealth, whiles all other weap and smart for it, that is the part not of a king, but of a jailor.
It is only natural, of course, that each man should think his own opinions best: the crow loves his fledgling, and the ape his cub.
and, indeed, nature has so made us, that we all love to be flattered and to please ourselves with our own notions
Isn’t this conception of absolute justice absolutely unjust?
The devil…the prowde spirite…cannot endure to be mocked.
Some men may be snared by beauty alone, but none can be held except by virtue and compliance.
Alas! how light a cause may move dissention between hearts that love!
The heart that has truly loved never forgets but as truly loves on to the close.
What though youth gave love and roses Age still leaves us friends and wine.
For as love is oftentimes won with beauty, so it is not kept, preserved, and continued, but by virtue and obedience.
Those among them that have not received our religion do not fright any from it, and use none ill that goes over to it, so that all the while I was there one man was only punished on this occasion.
I die the king’s faithful servant, but God’s first.
A little wanton money, which burned out the bottom of his purse.