“Secure against the designs of men, secure against the malignity of the Gods, they have accomplished a thing of infinite difficulty; that to them nothing remains even to be wished.”

In seasons of tumult and discord bad men have most power; mental and moral excellence require peace and quietness.

It is more reverent to believe in the works of the Deity than to comprehend them.

In valor there is hope.

It is a principle of human nature to hate those whom we have injured.

The task of history is to hold out for reprobation every evil word and deed, and to hold out for praise every great and noble word and deed.

In private enterprises men may advance or recede, whereas they who aim at empire have no alternative between the highest success and utter downfall.

It is common, to esteem most what is most unknown.

It is the rare fortune of these days that one may think what one likes and say what one thinks.

Keen at the start, but careless at the end.

When men are full of envy they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.

All those things that are now field to be of the greatest antiquity were at one time new; what we to-day hold up by example will rank hereafter as precedent.

The hatred of relatives is the most violent.

None grieve so ostentatiously as those who rejoice most in heart. [Lat., Nulla jactantius moerent quam qui maxime laetantur.]

Adversity deprives us of our judgment.

Lust of power is the most flagrant of all the passions.

Miseram pacem vel bello bene mutari. Even war is preferable to a shameful peace.