Demosthenes: “Of that which has been read, Athenians, most is true, unhappily true; perhaps not agreeable to hear.”

I could have wished, knowing the advantage of good counsel to you, I were equally certain of its advantage to the counselor: so should I have spoken with more satisfaction.

To censure, I may be told, is easy for any man; to show what measures the case requires, is the part of a counselor.

If a man keep what he gets, he is thankful to fortune; if he lose it by imprudence, he loses withal his memory of the obligation.

If it be his principle, ever to do more than he has done, and yours, to apply yourselves vigorously to nothing, see what the end promises to be.