“There is no good in anything until it is finished.”

In the space of seven years I have succeeded in accomplishing a great work and uniting the whole world in one Empire.

Despite all expectations, the time of my last campaign and of my passing is near. I wish to die at home. Let not my end disarm you, and on no account weep for me, lest the enemy be warned of my death.

Man’s greatest joy is to slay his enemy, plunder his riches, ride his steeds, see the tears of his loved ones and embrace his women.

Just as God gave different fingers to the hand so has He given different ways to men.

One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible.

A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.

If you’re afraid – don’t do it, – if you’re doing it – don’t be afraid!

With Heaven’s aid I have conquered for you a huge empire. But my life was too short to achieve the conquest of the world. That task is left for you.

I am the flail of god. Had you not created great sins, god would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.

An action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure.

The pleasure and joy of man lies in treading down the rebel and conquering the enemy, in tearing him up by the root, in taking from him all that he has.

One of the joys of travel is visiting new towns and meeting new people.

Even when a friend does something you do not like, he continues to be your friend.

The strength of a wall is neither greater nor less than the courage of the men who defend it.

All who surrender will be spared; whoever does not surrender but opposes with struggle and dissension, shall be annihilated.

There is no value in anything until it is finished.

Everything is good as long as it is unpossessed. Satiety and possession are Death’s horses they run in span.

The good thing about masturbation is that you don’t have to get dressed up for it.

When a child asks you something, answer him, for goodness sake. But don’t make a production of it. Children are children, but they can spot an evasion faster than adults, and evasion simply muddles ’em.

I think by the time you’re grown you’re as happy as you’re goin to be. You’ll have good times and bad times, but in the end you’ll be about as happy as you was before. Or as unhappy. I’ve knowed people that just never did get the hang of it.

If there’s one thing on this planet you don’t look like it’s a bunch of good luck walkin around.

A good artist should be isolated. If he isn’t isolated, something is wrong.

On soft Spring nights I’ll stand in the yard under the stars – Something good will come out of all things yet – And it will be golden and eternal just like that – There’s no need to say another word.

Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screeneed porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the treehouse; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colors in a parched landscape.