Monarchy first changes into its vicious allied form, tyranny; and next, the abolishment of both gives birth to aristocracy. Aristocracy...

Now the chief cause of success or the reverse in all matters is the form of a state's constitution; for springing from this, as from a...

Death of Hector in the Iliad: 'Tis true I perish, yet I perish great: Yet in a mighty deed I shall expire, Let future ages hear it, and...

And surely to conquer one's enemies by generosity and equity is of far higher service than any victory in the field; for to arms the...

The unlooked-for calamity of the Aetolians was a lesson to mankind never to discuss the future as if it were the present, or to have any...

“No one can corrupt a wise man with a bribe, though it is possible that he may with eloquence." Ammianus Marcellinus. The Roman History...

Presently Patricius and Hilarius were brought before the court, and were ordered to enumerate the whole series of their actions: and as...

This occurred during the reign of Valentinus: Damasus and Ursinus, being both immoderately eager to obtain the bishopric, formed parties...

"Nor am I ashamed to confess that I have long known, from prophecy, that I should fall by the sword. And therefore do I venerate the...

being eager to extend the recollection of his reign (Julian) by the greatness of his exploits, he proposed to rebuild at a vast expense...

Julian the Apostate, emperor of Rome, "having found by experience that no wild beasts are so hostile to men as Christian sects in general...

Constantius after this he confessed to his most intimate friends that, as if he were wholly forsaken, he had ceased to see a secret...

Julian (Roman Emperor) now forbade pheasants, or sausages, or even sow's udder to be served up to him, contenting himself with the cheap...

Sylla, who, guided by the apophthegms of Democritus, agreed with him that it is Fortune which spreads an ambitious table, but that Virtue...

Adrastea, who is also called Nemesis, the avenger of wicked and the rewarder of good deeds, is continually bringing to pass: would that...

We picked up one excellent word--a word worth traveling to New Orleans to get; a nice limber, expressive, handy word--'lagniappe.' They...

Mark Twain was a new river boat captain and was still being trained. He saw a reef ahead but the more experienced captain told him not...

I went below and fell into conversation with a passenger, a handsome man, with easy carriage and an intelligent face. We were approaching...

generally all evils which are distant most powerfully alarm men's minds. Caesar, Julius. Caesar's Commentaries The Conquest of Gaul & The...

The nation of all the Gauls is extremely devoted to superstitious rites; and on that account they who are troubled with unusually severe...

The immortal gods are wont to allow those persons whom they wish to punish for their guilt sometimes a greater prosperity and longer...

In “The Turning Point of My Life,” Clemens said that a childhood sickness was the cause of his mother’s apprenticing him to a printer: “I...

A friend of Mark Twain could not find a job: He said, with an outburst of pathetic longing, “If I could only get a job at the Pioneer!”...

So may I be courteous to men, faithful to friends, True to my God, a fragrance in the path I trod. Twain, Mark. Autobiography of Mark...