Sallust Quotes - Page 2

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.

The soul is the captain and ruler of the life of morals.

While the body is young and fine, the soul blunders, but as the body grows old it attains its highest power. Again, every good soul uses mind; but no body can produce mind: for how should that which is without mind produce mind? Again, while the soul uses the body as an instrument, it is not in it; just as the engineer is not in his engines (although many engines move without being touched by any one).

There were few who preferred honor to money.

Not by vows nor by womanish prayers is the help of the gods obtained; success comes through vigilance, energy, wise counsel.

But assuredly Fortune rules in all things; she raised to eminence or buries in oblivion everything from caprice rather than from well-regulated principle. [Lat., Sed profecto Fortuna in omni re dominatur; ea res cunctas ex lubidine magis, quam ex vero, celebrat, obscuratque.]

We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.

For harmony makes small states great, while discord undermines the mightiest empires.

No grief reaches the dead.

No one has become immortal by sloth; nor has any parent prayed that his children should live forever; but rather that they should lead an honorable and upright life. [Lat., Ignavia nemo immortalis factus: neque quisquam parens liberis, uti aeterni forent, optavit; magis, uti boni honestique vitam exigerent.]

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

To have the same desires and the same aversion is assuredly a firm bond of friendship.

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.

He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.

The fame which is based on wealth or beauty is a frail and fleeting thing; but virtue shines for ages with undiminished lustre.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

Get good counsel before you begin; and when you have decided, act promptly.

It is always easy enough to take up arms, but very difficult to lay them down; the commencement and the termination of war are notnecessarily in the same hands; even a coward may begin, but the end comes only when the victors are willing.

It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.

All persons who are enthusiastic that they should transcend the other animals ought to strive with the utmost effort not to pass through a life of silence, like cattle, which nature has fashioned to be prone and obedient to their stomachs.

They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

The higher your station, the less your liberty.

No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.