Anything forced is not beautiful

No human being will ever know the truth, for even if they happened to say it by chance, they would not know they had done so.

To quote a dictum of Simon, what a horse does under compulsion he does blindly, and his performance is no more beautiful than would be that of a ballet-dancer taught by whip and goad.

If you consider what are called the virtues in mankind, you will find their growth is assisted by education and cultivation.

Moderation in all things healthful; total abstinence from all things harmful.

What am I lying here for?...We are lying here as though we had a chance of enjoying a quiet time...Am I waiting until I become a little older?

For drink, there was beer which was very strong when not mingled with water, but was agreeable to those who were used to it. They drank this with a reed, out of the vessel that held the beer, upon which they saw the barley swim.

There is a deep—and usually frustrated—desire in the heart of everyone to act with benevolence rather than selfishness, and one fine instance of generosity can inspire dozens more.

Battles are decided more by the morale of the troops than by their bodily strength.