Cicero

Nay more, we must show clearly that even that very harshness which goes with our reproof is designed for the good of the person reproved.

So, in standing or walking, in sitting or reclining, in our expression, our eyes, or the movements of our hands, let us preserve what we have called "propriety.

We must, therefore, keep to the path of this sort of modesty, especially when Nature is our teacher and guide.

Again, there are two orders of beauty: in the one, loveliness predominates; in the other, dignity; of these, we ought to regard loveliness as the attribute of woman, and dignity as the attribute of man.

Therefore, let all finery not suitable to a man's dignity be kept off his person, and let him guard against the like fault in gesture and action.

The highest, truest glory depends upon the following three things: the affection, the confidence, and the mingled admiration and esteem of the people.

Then, too, the love of people generally is powerfully attracted by a man's mere name and reputation for generosity, kindness, justice, honour, and all those virtues that belong to gentleness of character and affability of manner.

But (2) confidence is reposed in men who are just and true--that is, good men--on the definite assumption that their characters admit of no suspicion of dishonesty or wrong-doing.

Therefore, justice combined with practical wisdom will command all the confidence we can desire; justice without wisdom will be able to do much; wisdom without justice will be of no avail at all.

While people admire in general everything that is great or better than they expect, they admire in particular the good qualities that they find unexpectedly in individuals.

For sensual pleasure, a most seductive mistress, turns the hearts of the greater part of humanity away from virtue; and when the fiery trial of affliction draws near, most people are terrified beyond measure.

And people admire especially the man who is uninfluenced by money; and if a man has proved himself in this direction, they think him tried as by fire.

Since, therefore, the efficacy of justice is so great that it strengthens and augments the power even of robbers, how great do we think its power will be in a constitutional government with its laws and courts?

Thought is occupied chiefly with the discovery of truth; impulse prompts to action.

We must be careful, therefore, to employ our thoughts on themes as elevating as possible and to keep our impulses under the control of reason.

And the one who engages in conversation should not debar others from participating in it, as if he were entering upon a private monopoly; but, as in other things, so in a general conversation he should think it not unfair for each to have…

But of all the occupations by which gain is secured, none is better than agriculture, none more profitable, none more delightful, none more becoming to a freeman.

For, since all moral rectitude springs from four sources (one of which is prudence; the second, social instinct; the third, courage; the fourth, temperance) it is often necessary in deciding a question of duty that these virtues be weighed…

The right course, moreover, even in our differences with our bitterest enemies, is to maintain our dignity and to repress our anger, even though we are treated outrageously.

For what is done under some degree of excitement cannot be done with perfect self-respect or the approval of those who witness it.

Yet of these three principles, the one of prime importance is to keep impulse subservient to reason.

However slightly out of tune a harp or flute may be, the fault is still detected by a connoisseur; so we must be on the watch lest haply something in our life be out of tune--nay, rather, far greater is the need for painstaking, inasmuch…

As, therefore, a musical ear detects even the slightest falsity of tone in a harp, so we, if we wish to be keen and careful observers of moral faults, shall often draw important conclusions from trifles.

For it happens somehow or other that we detect another's failings more readily than we do our own; and so in the school-room those pupils learn most easily to do better whose faults the masters mimic for the sake of correcting them.

Moreover, all our thought and mental activity will be devoted either to planning for things that are morally right and that conduce to a good and happy life, or to the pursuits of science and learning.