The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.

Great dreams of great dreamers are always transcended.

In moments of great grief, that’s where you look and immerse yourself. You realise you are not immortal, you are not a god, you are part of the natural world and you come to accept that.

No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.

The greatest power we have is the power of choice.

A proverb is much matter distilled into few words.

We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid

He who can destroy a thing, can control a thing.

One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.

If you don't know where you're from, you'll have a hard time saying where you're going.

All our knowledge begins with the senses, proceeds then to the understanding, and ends with reason. There is nothing higher than reason.

To be wronged is nothing unless you continue to remember it.

If you meditate, sooner or later you will come upon love. If you meditate deeply, sooner or later you will start feeling a tremendous love arising in you that you have never known before.

All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

Time flies over us, but leaves its shadow behind.

The essence of knowledge is, having it, to apply it; not having it, to confess your ignorance.

Time wounds all heels.

Power always thinks it has a great soul and vast views beyond the comprehension of the weak.

If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.

There is a wisdom of the head, and... there is a wisdom of the heart.

Chaos is a name for any order that produces confusion in our minds.