Demosthenes

“The fact is that a man who wants to do wrong has no harder task than to conceal it.”

“Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true.”

“There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots. What is it? Distrust.”

“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.”

“For it is not on the strength of our armaments, but on the loyalty of our allies that our security depends.”

“The end of wisdom is consultation and deliberation.”

“Every advantage in the past is judged in the light of the final issue.”

“To remind a man of a kindness conferred on him is little better than a reproach.”

“The best protection for the people is not in the armaments of the strong, but in the affections of the weak.”

“Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.”

“The easiest thing of all is to deceive one's self; for what a man wishes, that he also believes to be true.”

“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's character is his guardian divinity.”

“All speech is vain and empty unless it be accompanied by action.”