Aesop

Keep your place in life and your place will keep you.

Do not attempt to hide things which cannot be hidden.

Every man carries two bags about him, one in front and one behind, and both are full of faults. The bag in front contains his neighbors' faults, the one behind his own. Hence it is that men do not see their own faults, but never fail to see those of others.

It is one thing to conceive a good plan, and another to execute it.

It is thrifty to prepare today for wants of tomorrow.

Uninvited guests are often most welcome when they leave.

Self-help is the best help.

Expect no reward when you serve the wicked, and be thankful if you escape injury for your pain.

Try as one may, it is impossible to deny one's nature.

It is with our passions, as it is with fire and water, they are good servants but bad masters.

There are many statues of men slaying lions, but if only the lions were sculptors there might be quite a different set of statues.

Whoever neglects old friends for the sake of new deserves what e gets if he loses both.

The more you want, the more you stand to lose.

A man is known by the company he keeps.

Vices are their own punishment.

The north wind and the sun were disputing which was the stronger, and agreed to acknowledge as the victor whichever of them could strip a traveler of his clothing. The wind tried first. But its violent gusts only made the man hold his clothes tightly around him, and when it blew harder still the cold made him so uncomfortable that he put on an extra wrap. Eventually the wind got tired of it and handed him over to the sun. The sun shone first with moderate warmth, which made the man take off his topcoat. Then it blazed fiercely, till, unable to stand the heat, he stripped and went off to a bathe in a nearby river. Persuasion is more effective than force.

Be content with your lot; once cannot be first in everything.

Wise men say nothing in dangerous times.

Better be wise by the misfortunes of others than by your own.

The haft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagles own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction.

We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction.

He that always gives way to others will end in having no principles of his own.

Little by little does the trick.

Outside show is a poor substitute for inner worth.

Adversity tests the sincerity of friends.

It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.

Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.

Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

United we stand; divided we fall.

The smaller the mind, the greater the conceit.