Demosthenes Men Quotations

To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.

The man who flies shall fight again. [Lat., Qui fugiebat, rusus praeliabitur.]

The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it, but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.

No man who is not willing to help himself has any right to apply to his friends, or to the gods.

As a vessel is known by the sound, whether it be cracked or not; so men are proved, by their speeches, whether they be wise or foolish.

He who confers a favor should at once forget it, if he is not to show a sordid ungenerous spirit. To remind a man of a kindness conferred and to talk of it, is little different from reproach.

By persistent labor man may attain to all excellence.

It is the natural disposition of all men to listen with pleasure to abuse and slander of their neighbour, and to hear with impatience those who utter praises of themselves.

The more able a man is, if he make ill use of his abilities, the more dangerous will he be to the commonwealth.

You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit.

What a man wishes, he will believe.

It is impossible for men engaged in low and groveling pursuits to have noble and generous sentiments. A man's thought must always follow his employment.

The man who is in the highest state of prosperity, and who thinks his fortune is most secure, knows not if it will remain unchanged till the evening.

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true.

Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.