Historical voices

The period is now arrived, in which either they or we must change our sentiments, or one or both must fall.

I have been tender in raising the cry against these men, and used numberless arguments to show them their danger, but it will not do to sacrifice a world either to their folly or their baseness.

But their peculiar advantage is, that they are the touchstones of sincerity and hypocrisy, and bring things and men to light, which might otherwise have lain forever undiscovered.

Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.

What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value.

Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.

The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.

Depart then satisfied, for he also who releases thee is satisfied.

But everything else, whether it is in the power of thy will or not, is only lifeless ashes and smoke.

Reflecting on all this, consider nothing to be great, except to act as thy nature leads thee, and to endure that which the common nature brings.

And how small a part of the whole substance; and how small a part of the universal soul; and on what a small clod of the whole earth thou creepest!

How small a part of the boundless and unfathomable time is assigned to every man, for it is very soon swallowed up in the eternal!

But it is inconsistent with honoring reason and God to be troubled because by death a man will be deprived of the other things.

But if it is easy to set little value on all these things, turn to that which remains, which is to follow reason and God.

But intellect in a peculiar manner tends to that which is of the same kin, and combines with it, and the feeling for communion is not interrupted.

There is one intelligent soul, though it seems to be divided.

There is one light of the sun, though it is interrupted by walls, mountains, and other things infinite.

What remains, except to enjoy life by joining one good thing to another so as not to leave even the smallest intervals between?

The safety of life is this, to examine everything all through, what it is itself, that is its material, what the formal part; with all thy soul to do justice and to say the truth.

Thus then with respect to the gods, from what I constantly experience of their power, from this I comprehend that they exist, and I venerate them.

Smoke and ash and a tale, or not even a tale.

Constantly bring to thy recollection those who have complained greatly about anything, those who have been most conspicuous by the greatest fame or misfortunes or enmities or fortunes of any kind: then think where are they all now?

Therefore the termination of life for every man is no evil, because neither is it shameful, since it is both independent of the will and not opposed to the general interest, but it is good, since it is seasonable, and profitable to and…

Take away then, when thou choosest, thy opinion, and like a mariner who has doubled the promontory, thou wilt find calm, everything stable, and a waveless bay.