Greek historian (430 BC - 354 BC)
That the greater part of mankind are deluded by the splendour of royalty, I am not at all surprised; for the multitude appear to me to judge of people as happy or miserable principally from what they see. And royalty exhibits to the world conspicuously, and unfolded fully to the view, those objects which are esteemed of the highest value; while it keeps the troubles of kings concealed in the inmost recesses of the soul, where both the happiness and the misery of mankind reside.
XENOPHON
Hiero
Honor appears to me to be an object of great importance, since men submit to every kind of labor, and undergo every sort of danger, with the desire of attaining it.
XENOPHON
Hiero
Men unite against none so readily as against those whom they see attempting to rule over them.
XENOPHON
Cyropaedia
It appears to me that not only what is done by honourable and virtuous men in the serious transactions of life is worthy of record, but also what they do in their hours of amusement.
XENOPHON
The Banquet
Excess of grief for the deceased is madness; for it is an injury to the living, and the dead know it not.
XENOPHON
attributed, Day's Collacon
Anything forced is not beautiful.
XENOPHON
The Art of Horsemanship
In whom the love of honor and praise is innate, are those who are elevated most above the brutes, and who are justly named men, and not merely human beings.
XENOPHON
Hiero
You should take [dogs] to hunt on different grounds at different times, in order that you may experience varieties in the chase, and that you yourself may become acquainted with the country.
XENOPHON
Cynegeticus
Moderation in all things healthful; total abstinence from all things harmful.
XENOPHON
attributed, Teetotalers and Saloon Smashers
It is not numbers or strength that bring the victories in war. No, it is when one side goes against the enemy with the gods' gift of a stronger morale that their adversaries, as a rule, cannot withstand them.
XENOPHON
The Persian Expedition
All mankind look forward with pleasure to festival days, except kings; for their tables, being always supplied with abundance, admit of no addition on festive occasions; so that, first of all, in the pleasure derived from anticipation they are decidedly inferior to private individuals.
XENOPHON
Hiero
Royalty is the most wretched condition imaginable; for there is no possibility of setting one's self free from it, since how can any sovereign command sufficient resources to make restitution of property to those from whom he has taken it, or how can he make atonement in bonds to those whom he has cast into prison, or how can he offer a sufficient number of lives to die for those whom he has put to death?
XENOPHON
Hiero
The gods give nothing really good and beautiful without labor.
XENOPHON
attributed, Day's Collacon
He who has a weak constitution becomes stronger by manual exercise than a robust man without it.
XENOPHON
attributed, Day's Collacon
Agriculture for an honorable and high-minded man, is the best of all occupations and arts by which men procure the means of living.
XENOPHON
attributed, Day's Collacon
Yet is it more honourable, and just, and upright, and pleasing, to treasure in the memory good acts than bad.
XENOPHON
Anabasis
To enjoy objects of our affection by force appears to be more like the act of a robber than that of a lover.
XENOPHON
Hiero
He who pretends to carry his point by force hath need of many associates.
XENOPHON
Memorabilia of Socrates
Such as are excited by the gentler influence of Love assume more of affection in their looks, sink their voice into greater softness, and manifest in their gestures greater nobleness of soul.
XENOPHON
The Banquet
From one who returns our affection, glances of the eye, for instance, are pleasing, questions are pleasing, answers are pleasing, and little contentions and resentments are the most pleasing and fascinating of all.
XENOPHON
Hiero