-
Capable, even in ignorance
“If a man is commonplace in conversation and rare in writing, that means that his capacity is in the place from which he borrows it, and not in himself. A learned man is not learned in all matters; but the capable man is capable in all matters, even in ignorance.” III.2 “Of repentance” (p. 741)
-
What is most urgent
“A starving man would be very foolish to try and provide himself with a fine garment rather than with a good meal: we must run to what is most urgent.” II.16 “Of glory” (569)
-
Evil means to a good end
“However, the weakness of our condition often pushes us to the necessity of using evil means to a good end.” II. 23 “Of evil means employed to a good end” (p. 629)
-
We are nothing but ceremony
“We are nothing but ceremony; ceremony carries us away, and we leave the substance of things; we hang on to the branches and abandon the trunk and body.” II.17 “Of presumption” (581).
-
Whatever side we lean to
“Because in human matters, whatever side we lean to, we find many probabilities to confirm us in it…” II.17 “Of presumption” (pp. 603)
-
Harmonious and uniform
“Those who want to split up our two principal parts and sequester them from each other are wrong. On the contrary, we must couple and join them together again. We must order the soul not to draw aside and entertain itself apart, not to scorn and abandon the body (nor can it do so except…
-
To grow and to languish
“It is possible that in those who employ their time well, knowledge and experience grow with living; but vivacity, quickness, firmness, and other qualities much more our own, more important and essential, wither and languish.” I.57 (p. 289)
-
Fit to command
“Moreover, Cyrus used to say that no man is fit to command who is not better than those he commands.” I.42 (p. 234)
-
The universe suffers by our annihilation
“It seems that the universe somehow suffers by our annihilation and that is has compassion for our state.” II. 13 “Of judging the death of others” (p. 556)
-
The sole and unique protector
“He is indeed our sole and unique protector, and can do anything to help us; but although he deigns to honor us with that sweet fatherly relationship, nevertheless, he is as just as he is good and as he is powerful. But he exercises his justice much more often than his power, and favors us…