I am not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.

The foundation of every state is the education of its youth.

When I look upon seamen, men of science and philosophers, man is the wisest of all beings; when I look upon priests and prophets nothing is as contemptible as man.

Man is the most intelligent of the animals - and the most silly.

Wise kings generally have wise counselors; and he must be a wise man himself who is capable of distinguishing one.

Why not whip the teacher when the pupil misbehaves?

Those who have virtue always in their mouths, and neglect it in practice, are like a harp, which emits a sound pleasing to others, while itself is insensible of the music.

The sun, too, shines into cesspools and is not polluted.

Most men are within a finger's breadth of being mad.

It is the privilege of the gods to want nothing, and of godlike men to want little.