The foremost art of kings is the ability to endure hatred.

The foremost art of kings is the ability to endure hatred.

Only kings, editors, and people with tapeworm have the right to use the editorial "we."

Only kings, editors, and people with tapeworm have the right to use the editorial "we."

The wisdom of our ancestors.

The wisdom of our ancestors.

He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another

He who boasts of his ancestry praises the merits of another

Few sons attain the praise
Of their great sires and most their sires disgrace.

Few sons attain the praise
Of their great sires and most their sires disgrace.

Of what use are pedigrees, or to be thought of noble blood, or
the display of family portraits, O read more

Of what use are pedigrees, or to be thought of noble blood, or
the display of family portraits, O Ponticus?
[Lat., Stemmata quid faciunt, quid prodest, Pontice, longo,
Sanguine censeri pictosque ostendere vultus.]

Kings govern by popular assemblies only when they cannot do without them.

Kings govern by popular assemblies only when they cannot do without them.

Born is a Cellar, . . . and living in a Garret.

Born is a Cellar, . . . and living in a Garret.

We are all creatures of our ancestry! There is no right and wrong, objectively.

We are all creatures of our ancestry! There is no right and wrong, objectively.