Mathematicians From Greece

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

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

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

"Wind indeed increases fire, but custom love."

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

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

"It is not proper either to have a blunt sword or to use freedom of speech ineffectually. Neither is the sun to be taken from the world, nor freedom of speech from erudition."

"Not frequently man from man."

"When a reasonable Soul forsaketh his divine nature, and becometh beast-like, it dieth. For though the substance of the Soul be incorruptible: yet, lacking the use of Reason, it is reputed dead; for it loseth the Intellective Life."

"A good Soul hath neither too great joy, nor too great sorrow: for it rejoiceth in goodness; and it sorroweth in wickedness. By the means whereof, when it beholdeth all things, and seeth the good and bad so mingled together, it can neither rejoice greatly; nor be grieved with over much sorrow."

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

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

"Patience cometh by the grace of the Soul."

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

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

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

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

"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."

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

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

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

"Rejoice not in another man's misfortune!"

"Let thy mind rule thy tongue!"

"Hear gladly!"

"Attempt nothing above thy strength!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Without Justice, no realm may prosper."

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

"To use Virtue is perfect blessedness."

"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."

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

"Repentance deserveth Pardon."

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

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

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

"Evil destroyeth itself."

"Better be mute, than dispute with the Ignorant."

"Virtue is harmony."

"The oldest, shortest words— "yes" and "no"— are those which require the most thought."

"There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it reluctantly."

"Concern should drive us into action and not into a depression."

"In this theater of man's life it is reserved only for God and angels to be lookers on."

"Ten is the very nature of number. All Greeks and all barbarians alike count up to ten, and having reached ten revert again to the unity. And again, Pythagoras maintains, the power of the number 10 lies in the number 4, the tetrad. This is the reason: if one starts at the unit (1) and adds the successive number up to 4, one will make up the number 10 (1+2+3+4 = 10). And if one exceeds the tetrad, one will exceed 10 too.... So that the number by the unit resides in the number 10, but potentially in the number 4. And so the Pythagoreans used to invoke the Tetrad as their most binding oath: "By him that gave to our generation the Tetractys, which contains the fount and root of eternal nature...""