"If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death."

"Rest satisfied with doing well, and leave others to talk of you as they please."

"It is only necessary to make war with five things; with the maladies of the body, the ignorances of the mind, with the passions of the body, with the seditions of the city and the discords of families."

"As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom."

"Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life."

"Anger begins in folly, and ends in repentance."

"Choose always the way that seems the best, however rough it may be; custom will soon render it easy and agreeable."

"It is better wither to be silent, or to say things of more value than silence. Sooner throw a pearl at hazard than an idle or useless word; and do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few."

"Truth is so great a perfection, that if God would render himself visible to men, he would choose light for his body and truth for his soul."

"There are men and gods, and beings like Pythagoras."

"There is no word or action but has its echo in Eternity. Thought is an Idea in transit, which when once released, never can be lured back, nor the spoken word recalled. Nor ever can the overt act be erased All that thou thinkest, sayest, or doest bears perpetual record of itself, enduring for Eternity."

"There is geometry in the humming of the strings, there is music in the spacing of the spheres."

"As long as Man continues to be the ruthless destroyer of lower living beings, he will never know health or peace. For as long as men massacre animals, they will kill each other. Indeed, he who sows the seed of murder and pain cannot reap joy and love."

"Time is the soul of this world."

"Most men and women, by birth or nature, lack the means to advance in wealth and power, but all have the ability to advance in knowledge."

"Man know thyself; then thou shalt know the Universe and God."

"A blow from your friend is better than a kiss from your enemy."

"Write in the sand the flaws of your friend."

"Educate the children and it won't be necessary to punish the men."

"When going to the temple to adore Divinity neither say nor do any thing in the interim pertaining to the common affairs of life."

"Sacrifice and adore unshod."

"Disbelieve nothing wonderful concerning the gods, nor concerning divine dogmas."

"Declining from the public ways, walk in unfrequented paths."

"Govern your tongue before all other things, following the gods."

"The wind is blowing, adore the wind."

"Cut not fire with a sword."

"Assist a man in raising a burden; but do not assist him in laying it down."

"Step not beyond the beam of the balance."

"Having departed from your house, turn not back; for the furies will be your attendants."

"Eat not the heart."

"Eat not the brain."

"Κυάμων ἀπέχεσθαι"

"Abstain from animals."

"Above and before all things, worship GOD!"

"Above all things reverence thy Self."

"Work at these things, practice them, these are the things you ought to desire; they are what will put you on the path of divine virtue — yes, by the one who entrusted our soul with the tetraktys, source of ever-flowing nature. Pray to the gods for success and get to work."

"Practice justice in word and deed, and do not get in the habit of acting thoughtlessly about anything."

"Know that death comes to everyone, and that wealth will sometimes be acquired, sometimes lost. Whatever griefs mortals suffer by divine chance, whatever destiny you have, endure it and do not complain. But it is right to improve it as much as you can, and remember this: Fate does not give very many of these griefs to good people."

"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."

"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."

"Meditate upon my counsels; love them; follow them; To the divine virtues will they know how to lead thee. I swear it by the One who in our hearts engraved The sacred Tetrad, symbol immense and pure, Source of Nature and model of the Gods."

"Holding fast to these things, you will know the worlds of gods and mortals which permeates and governs everything. And you will know, as is right, nature similar in all respects, so that you will neither entertain unreasonable hopes nor be neglectful of anything."

"You will know that wretched men are the cause of their own suffering, who neither see nor hear the good that is near them, and few are the ones who know how to secure release from their troubles. Such is the fate that harms their minds; like pebbles they are tossed about from one thing to another with cares unceasing. For the dread companion Strife harms them unawares, whom one must not walk behind, but withdraw from and flee."

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

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

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

"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."

"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."