The quote database

Beside, that the ills which he fears he may suffer, he suffers in the very fear of them.

Do not, I beg you, dread those things which the immortal gods apply to our minds like spurs: misfortune is virtue's opportunity.

Misfortunes press hardest on those who are unacquainted with them: the yoke feels heavy to the tender neck.

Death, like birth, is a mystery of nature; the one a compounding of elements, the other a resolution into the same.

For death also is one piece of the business of life, and, here as elsewhere, it is enough to do well what comes to our hand.

To the man who is penetrated with true principles, the shortest, the most common hint is a sufficient memorial to keep him free of sorrow and fear.

Fear proceeds from the same things when absent which occasion grief when present.

As death, therefore, is hanging over our head every hour, how can a man ever be unshaken in soul if he fears it?

I’d subscribe to the belief that we’re all destined to have to do the thing we fear the most anyway.

Instead of denying these fears, declare them, say them out loud, admit them, give them the credit they deserve.

I try to scare myself at least once a day.

Whoever expects punishment already suffers it, and whoever has deserved it expects it.

Fear is more importunate and insupportable than death itself

Your fears must be mastered before you can win in any worthwhile undertaking in life.

Here we see how hurtful it is for a prince or commonwealth to keep the minds of their subjects in constant alarm and suspense by continually renewed punishments and violence.

The prince, therefore, who would guard himself against plots, ought more to fear those men to whom he has been too indulgent, than those to whom he has done great wrongs.

there is no surer or more necessary restraint on the violence of an unruly multitude, than the presence of some one whose character and bearing command respect

It may be answered that one should wish to be both, but, because it is difficult to unite them in one person, it is much safer to be feared than loved, when, of the two, either must be dispensed with.

there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things, because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new

Every year if not every day we have to wager our salvation upon some prophecy based upon imperfect knowledge.

Uncertainty gives fear a chance to get in its deadly work on the imagination and make cowards of us.

When the need comes, there is a power deep within us that answers the call.

This custom of ostracism was not intended as a punishment for crime, but was called, in order to give it a plausible title, a check to excessive power.

we ought to give our friend pain if it will benefit him, but not to the extent of breaking off our friendship; but just as we make use of some biting medicine, that will save and preserve the life of the patient

the immoderate desire for each, implanting a most immoderate fear of losing them, makes the enjoyment of them weak and wavering, like a flame under the influence of a wind