The Quotes canon
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Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Browse all 10,075 quotes or apply filters in different categories to narrow your search.
Classical antiquity4 quotes
Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one. — Marcus Aurelius · 180Neither by nature, then, nor contrary to nature do the virtues arise in us; rather we are adapted by nature to receive them, and are made perfect by habit. — Aristotle · 322 BCThe good of man is the active exercise of his soul's faculties in conformity with excellence or virtue... Moreover this activity must occupy a complete lifetime; for one swallow does not make spring, nor does one fine day; and similarly one day or a brief period of happiness does not make a man supremely blessed and happy. — Aristotle · 322 BCEveryone has the potential for self-knowledge and sound thinking. — HeraclitusThe Renaissance4 quotes
The childhood shows the man,
As morning shows the day. — John Milton · 1671They say best men are molded out of faults,
And, for the most, become much more the better
For being a little bad. — William Shakespeare · 1616Virtue shuns ease as a companion... It demands a rough and thorny path. — Michel de Montaigne · 1580Prosperity doth best discover Vice; But Adversity doth best discover Vertue. — Francis Bacon · 1625Ancient World3 quotes
Is Goodness indeed so far away? If we really wanted Goodness, we should find that it was at our very side. — Confucius · 221 BCIf a man should conquer in battle a thousand and a thousand more, and another man should conquer himself, his would be the greater victory, because the greatest of victories is the victory over oneself. — Pali Tipitaka · 100 BCThough bitter, good medicine cures illness. Though it may hurt, loyal criticism will have beneficial effects. — Sima Qian · 109 BCAge of Enlightenment2 quotes
Never complain of that of which it is at all times in your power to rid yourself. — Adam Smith · 1759A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday. — Alexander Pope · 1727Colonial America1 quote
How few there are who have courage enough to own their Faults, or resolution enough to mend them! — Benjamin Franklin · 1743