Our liberality should not exceed our ability.
Our generosity never should exceed our abilities.
Reason should direct, and appetite obey.
The mansion should not be graced by its master, the master should grace the mansion.
In honorable dealing you should consider what you intended, not what you said or thought.
The leaders should all relate to this principle: the governed must be as happy as possible.
I will adhere to the counsels of good men, although misfortune and death should be the consequence.
Anger should never appear in awarding punishment.
Of evils one should choose the least. [Lat., Ex malis eligere minima oportere.]
We should never so entirely avoid danger as to appear irresolute and cowardly; but, at the same time, we should avoid unnecessarily exposing ourselves to danger, than which nothing can be more foolish.
He is sometimes slave who should be master; and sometimes master who should be slave.
War should be undertaken in such a way as to show that its only object is peace.
Whatever befalls in accordance with nature should be accounted good.
In all matters, before beginning, a diligent preparation should be made.
Generosity should never exceed ability.
The higher our position the more modestly we should behave.
We should be careful that our benevolence does not exceed our means.