Scilurus on his death-bed, being about to leave four-score sons surviving, offered a bundle of darts to each of them, and bade them break them. When all refused, drawing out one by one, he easily broke them,—thus teaching them that if they held together, they would continue strong; but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak.

The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.

He is a fool who lets slip a bird in the hand for a bird in the bush.

The great god Pan is dead.

Be ruled by time, the wisest counsellor of all.

Authority and place demonstrate and try the tempers of men, by moving every passion and discovering every frailty.

Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.

Valour, however unfortunate, commands great respect even from enemies: but the Romans despise cowardice, even though it be prosperous.

When one told Plistarchus that a notorious railer spoke well of him, "I 'll lay my life," said he, "somebody hath told him I am dead, for he can speak well of no man living."

And when the physician said, "Sir, you are an old man," "That happens," replied Pausanias, "because you never were my doctor."