Regum et imperatorum apophthegmata

He used to say that those who rob virtue of honour rob youth of virtue.

An official or a judge, he said, ought neither to require importuning to grant what is right nor to yield to importuning to grant what is wrong.

Wrongdoing, he used to say, even if it brings no risk to its authors, brings risk to all.

He used to say that, since there are so many odious things connected with old age, it is only right not to add the odium which comes from vice. [*](Cf. Moralia, 784 A and 829 F; and Plutarch’s Life of M. Cato, chap. ix. (341 D).)

He had an idea that the man who has lost his temper differs from him who has lost his mind only in duration of time. [*](Cf. Horace, Epistles, i. 2. 62; Seneca, De ira, i. 1. 2.)

He said that those who use their good fortune reasonably and moderately are least envied; for people envy not us but our surroundings.

He used to say that those who are serious in ridiculous matters will be ridiculous in serious matters.

He used to say that it is necessary to make good deeds secure by means of good deeds, so that they may not fall off in their repute.

He used to rebuke the citizens for electing always the same men to office. For, said he, you will give the impression that you hold office to be of no great worth, or else that you hold not many men to be worthy of office. [*](Cf. Plutarch’s Life oF M. Cato, chap. viii. (340 D).)