Socrates

The fewer our wants the more we resemble the Gods.

Beauty is a short-lived tyranny.

As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will, he will be sure to repent.

Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions, but those who kindly reprove thy faults.

The nearest way to glory is to strive to be what you wish to be thought to be.

To know, is to know that you know nothing. That is the meaning of true knowledge.

Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.

Cruel with guilt, and daring with despair, the midnight murderer bursts the faithless bar; invades the sacred hour of silent rest and leaves, unseen, a dagger in your breast.

I don’t like needing anyone for anything.

I have been brought up and trained to have the utmost contempt for people who get drunk.

Imagination is not a talent of some people but is the health of everyone.

It is a fine thing to be honest, but it is also very important to be right.

A wise neuter joins with neither, but uses both as his honest interest leads him.

Nature arms each man with some faculty which enables him to do easily some feat impossible to any other.

The serpent if it wants to become the dragon must eat itself.

We are much beholden to Machiavel and others, that write what men do, and not what they ought to do.

Where secrecy or mystery begins, vice or roguery is not far off.

Some look at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and ask why not?

The bluebird carries the sky on his back.

The flowery style is not unsuitable to public speeches or addresses, which amount only to compliment. The lighter beauties are in their place when there is nothing more solid to say; but the flowery style ought to be banished from a pleading, a sermon, or a didactic work.