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Aristotle (Greek, 384BC-322BC)

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A true friend is one soul in two bodies.

Homer has taught all other poets the art of telling lies skillfully.

I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law.

In a democracy the poor will have more power than the rich, because there are more of them, and the will of the majority is supreme.

Inferiors revolt in order that they may be equal, and equals that they may be superior. Such is the state of mind which creates revolutions.

Mothers are fonder than fathers of their children because they are more certain they are their own.

No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness.

Republics decline into democracies and democracies degenerate into despotisms.

The most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes.

The secret to humor is surprise.

The worst form of inequality is to try to make unequal things equal.

Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.

Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.

Niccolo Machiavelli (Italian, 1469-1527)

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A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.

Before all else, be armed.

Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.

When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.

Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.

Voltaire (French, 1694-1778)

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Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.

He must be very ignorant for he answers every question he is asked.

If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him.

It is not enough to conquer; one must learn to seduce.

It is said that the present is pregnant with the future.

Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.

No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking.

The Holy Roman Empire is neither Holy, nor Roman, nor an Empire.

Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.

This self-love is the instrument of our preservation; it resembles the provision for the perpetuity of mankind: it is necessary, it is dear to us, it gives us pleasure, and we must conceal it.

Use, do not abuse; neither abstinence nor excess ever renders man happy.

Friedrich Nietzsche (German, 1844-1900)

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Arrogance on the part of the meritorious is even more offensive to us than the arrogance of those without merit: for merit itself is offensive.

A woman may very well form a friendship with a man, but for this to endure, it must be assisted by a little physical antipathy.

Character is determined more by the lack of certain experiences than by those one has had.

Do whatever you will, but first be such as are able to will.

Egoism is the very essence of a noble soul.

Every church is a stone on the grave of a god-man: it does not want him to rise up again under any circumstances.

Fear is the mother of morality.

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.

In heaven, all the interesting people are missing.

It is good to express a thing twice right at the outset and so to give it a right foot and also a left one. Truth can surely stand on one leg, but with two it will be able to walk and get around.

Regarding life, the wisest men of all ages have judged alike: it is worthless.

That which does not kill us makes us stronger.

The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than those who think differently.

There are various eyes. Even the Sphinx has eyes: and as a result there are various truths, and as a result there is no truth.

There is in general good reason to suppose that in several respects the gods could all benefit from instruction by us human beings. We humans are - more humane.

Those who cannot understand how to put their thoughts on ice should not enter into the heat of debate.

Ernest Hemingway (American, 1899-1961)

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All things truly wicked start from innocence.

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.

Cowardice... is almost always simply a lack of ability to suspend functioning of the imagination.

Forget your personal tragedy. We are all bitched from the start and you especially have to be hurt like hell before you can write seriously. But when you get the damned hurt, use it-don't cheat with it.