Solomon Ibn Gabirol

“The beginning of wisdom is to desire it.”

“And when I was born, I drew in the common air, and fell upon the earth, which is of like nature; and the first voice which I uttered was crying, as all others do.”

“My friend is he who will tell me my faults in private.”

“One is punished by the very things by which he sins.”

“Thou hast created me not from necessity but from grace.”

“As long as a word remains unspoken, you are its master; once you utter it, you are its slave.”

“All men have one entrance into life, and the like going out.”

“I am better able to retract what I did not say than what I did.”

“The test of good manners is to be patient with the bad ones.”

“Plan for this world as if you expect to live forever; but plan for the hereafter as if you expect to die tomorrow.”

“A wise man's question contains half the answer.”

“As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.”

“Your secret is your prisoner; once you reveal it, you become its slave.”

“Many men hoard for the future husbands of their wives.”

“Kings may be judges of the earth, but wise men are the judges of kings.”

“If you want to keep something concealed from your enemy, don't disclose it to your friend.”

“Jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire.”