Basil Gentleman is an aphorist, classicist and fabulist. He has translated aphorisms by Vauvenargues (Geary’s Guide pp. 141-143), Montesquieu (GG pp. 93-94), and by Christina, Queen of Sweden. He is currently preparing a book of his own aphorisms, from which these have been selected:

Fear leaves you at the gate.

When the going gets tough, the leaving gets easy.

We are careful how we lay the table but not careful what we eat.

When a man is at his best, he tells his enemies to do their worst.