Quotes from Demosthenes

Small opportunities are often the beginning of great enterprises.

Since we are not yet fully comfortable with the idea that people from the next village are as human as ourselves, it is presumptuous in the extreme to suppose we could ever look at sociable, tool-making creatures who are from other evolutionary paths and see not beasts, but brothers, not rivals, but fellow pilgrims journeying to the shrine of intelligence...The difference... is not in the creature judged, but in the creature judging.

As a vessel is known by its sound whether it be cracked or not, so men are proved by their speeches whether they be wise or foolish.

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

Beware lest in your anxiety to avoid war you obtain a master.

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

Virtue begins with understanding and is fulfilled by courage.

What a man wishes he generally believes to be true

Was man wünscht, das glaubt auch jeder.

I'll betide thee, say I, and may the Gods, or at least the Athenians, confound thee for a vile citizen and a vile third-rate actor! Read the evidence.

Nothing is easier than self-deceit. For what each me wishes, that he also believes is true.

The fact speak for themselves.

The best protection for the people is not necessarily to believe everything people tell them.

Success has a great tendency to conceal and throw a veil over the evil deeds of men.

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.

What we wish, that we readily believe.

There is one safeguard known generally to the wise, which is an advantage and security to all, but especially to democracies as against despots - suspicion.

What we have in us of the image of God is the love of truth and justice.

Clouds cannot cover secret places, nor denials conceal truth.

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

Was man wünscht, das glaubt auch jeder.

One believes in what one wants to believe in.

We believe whatever we want to believe.

The man who flies shall fight again. [Lat., Qui fugiebat, rusus praeliabitur.]