Thales

Necessity is the strongest of things, for it rules everything.

Hope is the most universal of human possessions.

There are three attributes for which I am grateful to Fortune: that I was born, first, human and not animal; second, man and not woman; and third, Greek and not barbarian.

Intellect is the swiftest of things, for it runs through everything.

Hope is the only good that is common to all men; those who have nothing else possess hope still.

God is the most ancient of all things, for he had no birth.

Nothing is more active than thought, for it travels over the universe, and nothing is stronger than necessity for all must submit to it.

The most difficult thing in life is to know yourself.