Isaac Komnenos (Brother of Emperor Alexios Komnenos)

Isaac Komnenos
Isaac Komnenos was the brother of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, who ruled the Byzantine Empire from 1081-1118 CE. Isaac was given the title of Sebastokrator and played a major role in his brother's military and government.

"I am forced to force those whom I do not wish to force."

• This quote was recorded in The Alexiad by Isaac Komnenos' neice, Anna Komnena (daughter of Emperor Alexios). This version was translated by E. R. A. Sewter and revised by Peter Frankopan (Penguin Classics, 2009).

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Saint Teresa of Avila

Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582 CE)

"In this life, then, the soul has a very bad time, for, however much it accomplishes, it is strong enough inwardly to attempt much more and this causes such strife within it that nothing it can do seems to it of any importance."

• From Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, translated by E. Allison Peers (Dover Publications, 2007).

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Gottfried Leibniz

Gottfried Leibniz (1646-1716 CE)

"To suppose two things indiscernible is to suppose the same thing under two names."

• From Leibniz's Letters To Clark, translated by G. H. R. Parkinson and Mary Morris (Everyman's Library, 1934). Image of Liebniz photographed by Ad Meskens and licensed under Creative Commons 3.0 (CC 3.0).

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Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi (1584-1645 CE)

"Victory is certain when the enemy is caught up in a rhythm which confuses his spirit."

• From The Book of Five Rings written by Miyamoto Musashi around 1643-1645, translated by Lord Majesty Productions, 2005.

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Cornutus

Cornutus (1st Century CE)

"Just as we ourselves are controlled by a soul, so the world possesses a soul holding it together, and this soul is designated God, primordially and ever living and the source of all life."

• From Cornutus' Theologiae Graecae Compendium (Compendium of Greek Theology), edition of C. Lang and Leip,1891, cited in S. Angus' The Mystery-Religions (Dover Publications, republished 1975).

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John Adams

John Adams (1735-1826 CE)

"It is marvellous how political Plants grow in the shade."

• From a letter John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail Adams, dated January 14, 1797. The comment was made in reference to retirement boosting the political popularity of revolutionaries, but the quote works well with politics, in general.

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Homer

Homer (8th and 7th Century BCE Greek poet)

"The same death awaits the man who does much, and the man
who does nothing."

• From The Iliad (Book 9) by Homer, translated by E. V. Rieu and revised by Peter Jones (Penguin Classics, 2014).

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