I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.

A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.

Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.

Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.