"Pythagoras, it seems, did not only call the supreme Deity a monad, but also a tetrad, or tetractys... It is, in the golden verses, said to be the fountain of the eternal nature; and by Hierocles, the maker of all things, the intelligent god, the cause of the heavenly and sensible god, that is, of the animated world or heaven. The later Pythogoreans endeavour to give reasons why God should be called Tetractys, from certain mysteries in the number four; but... much more probable... this name was really nothing else but the tetragrammaton, or that proper name of the supreme God amongst the Hebrews, consisting of four letters; nor is it strange Pythagoras should be so well acquainted with the name Jehovah, since, besides travelling into other parts of the East, he is by Josephus, Porphyry, and others, to have conversed with the Hebrews also."

"Repentance deserveth Pardon."

"None but a Craftsman can judge of a craft."

"The best and greatest winning is a true friend; and the greatest loss is the loss of time."

"Envy has been, is, and shall be, the destruction of many. What is there, that Envy hath not defamed, or Malice left undefiled? Truly, no good thing."

"A solitary man is a God, or a beast."

"It is better to suffer, than to do, wrong."

"These thinkers seem to consider that number is the principle both as matter for things and as constituting their attributes and permanent states."

"Without Justice, no realm may prosper."

"Wisdom thoroughly learned, will never be forgotten. Science is got by diligence; but Discretion and Wisdom cometh of GOD."

"Happy is that City that hath a wise man to govern it."

"To use Virtue is perfect blessedness."

"He is worst of all, that is malicious against his friends."

"Wish not the thing, which thou mayest not obtain!"

"Be not hasty to speak; nor slow to hear!"

"If thou intend to do any good; tarry not till to-morrow! for thou knowest not what may chance thee this night."

"Hear gladly!"

"Attempt nothing above thy strength!"

"Use examples; that such as thou teachest may understand thee the better!"

"Take not thine enemy for thy friend; nor thy friend for thine enemy!"

"If thy fellows hurt thee in small things, suffer it! and be as bold with them!"

"Rejoice not in another man's misfortune!"

"Let thy mind rule thy tongue!"

"Tell not abroad what thou intendest to do; for if thou speed not, thou shalt be mocked!"

"Reason not with him, that will deny the principal truths!"

"He is not rich, that enjoyeth not his own goods."

"True and perfect Friendship is, to make one heart and mind of many hearts and bodies."

"By Silence, the discretion of a man is known: and a fool, keeping Silence, seemeth to be wise."

"Dispose thy Soul to all good and necessary things!"

"Patience cometh by the grace of the Soul."

"A fool is known by his Speech; and a wise man by Silence."

"They thought they found in numbers, more than in fire, earth, or water, many resemblances to things which are and become; thus such and such an attribute of numbers is justice, another is soul and mind, another is opportunity, and so on; and again they saw in numbers the attributes and ratios of the musical scales. Since, then, all other things seemed in their whole nature to be assimilated to numbers, while numbers seemed to be the first things in the whole of nature, they supposed the elements of numbers to be the elements of all things, and the whole heaven to be a musical scale and a number."

"What seems certain is that Pythagoras developed the idea of mathematical logic... He realized that numbers exist independently of the tangible world and therefore their study was untainted by inaccuracies of perception. This meant he could discover truths which were independent of opinion of prejudice and which were more absolute then any previous knowledge."

"Order thyself so, that thy Soul may always be in good estate; whatsoever become of thy body."

"The King that followeth Truth, and ruleth according to Justice, shall reign quietly: but he that doth the contrary, seeketh another to reign for him."

"Honor Wisdom; and deny it not to them that would learn; and shew it unto them that dispraise it! Sow not the sea fields!"

"Despise all those things which when liberated from the body you will not want; invoke the Gods to become your helpers."

"Remind yourself that all men assert that wisdom is the greatest good, but that there are few who strenuously seek out that greatest good."

"Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love."

"Neither will the horse be adjudged to be generous, that is sumptuously adorned, but the horse whose nature is illustrious; nor is the man worthy who possesses great wealth, but he whose soul is generous."

"When the wise man opens his mouth, the beauties of his soul present themselves to the view, like the statues in a temple"

"Those alone are dear to Divinity who are hostile to injustice."

"It is difficult to walk at one and the same time many paths of life."

"Choose rather to be strong in soul than in body."

"It is requisite to choose the most excellent life; for custom will make it pleasant. Wealth is an infirm anchor, glory is still more infirm; and in a similar manner, the body, dominion, and honour. For all these are imbecile and powerless. What then are powerful anchors. Prudence, magnanimity, fortitude. These no tempest can shake. This is the Law of God, that virtue is the only thing that is strong; and that every thing else is a trifle."

"It is requisite to defend those who are unjustly accused of having acted injuriously, but to praise those who excel in a certain good."

"Do not even think of doing what ought not to be done."

"None can be free who is a slave to, and ruled by, his passions."

"Let not sleep fall upon thy eyes till thou has thrice reviewed the transactions of the past day. Where have I turned aside from rectitude? What have I been doing? What have I left undone, which I ought to have done? Begin thus from the first act, and proceed; and, in conclusion, at the ill which thou hast done, be troubled, and rejoice for the good."

"Many words befall men, mean and noble alike; do not be astonished by them, nor allow yourself to be constrained. If a lie is told, bear with it gently. But whatever I tell you, let it be done completely. Let no one persuade you by word or deed to do or say whatever is not best for you."