I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men . . . in receiving
from the people the sacred trust read more

I tread in the footsteps of illustrious men . . . in receiving
from the people the sacred trust confided to my illustrious
predecessor.

I do not give you to posterity as a pattern to imitate, but as an
example to deter.

I do not give you to posterity as a pattern to imitate, but as an
example to deter.

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no read more

Choose your friends by their character and your socks by their color. Choosing your socks by their character makes no sense, and choosing your friends by their color is unthinkable.

This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,--
That firste he wroughte and after he taughte.

This noble ensample to his sheepe he gaf,--
That firste he wroughte and after he taughte.

The people are fashioned according to the example of their kings;
and edicts are of less power than the read more

The people are fashioned according to the example of their kings;
and edicts are of less power than the life of their ruler.
[Lat., Componitur orbis
Regis ad exemplum; nec sic inflectere sensus
Humanos edicta valent, quam vita regentis.]

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good
example.

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good
example.

Whence do you derive the power and privilege of a parent, when
you, though an old man, do worse read more

Whence do you derive the power and privilege of a parent, when
you, though an old man, do worse things (than your child)?
[Lat., Unde tibi frontem libertatemque parentis,
Cum facias pejora senex?

Why doth one man's yawning make another yawn?

Why doth one man's yawning make another yawn?

A good example has twice the value of good advice

A good example has twice the value of good advice