“Nothing moves more quickly than scandal.”

Envy is blind, and is only clever in depreciating the virtues of others.

Friends should be judged by their acts, not their words.

The mind sins, not the body; if there is no intention, there is no blame.

Many things complicated by nature are restored by reason.

Fame opportunely despised often comes back redoubled.

An honor prudently declined often returns with increased luster.

The old Romans all wished to have a king over them because they had not yet tasted the sweetness of freedom.

Shared danger is the strongest of bonds; it will keep men united in spite of mutual dislike and suspicion.

Truth is often eclipsed but never extinguished.

The result showed that fortune helps the brave.

Such is the nature of crowds: either they are humble and servile or arrogant and dominating. They are incapable of making moderate use of freedom, which is the middle course, or of keeping it.

Men’s minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves.

Events of great consequence often spring from trifling circumstances.

War is just to those to whom war is necessary.

War is just to those for whom it is necessary, and arms are clear of impiety for those who have no hope left but in arms.

He will have true glory who despises it.

When personal freedom’s being abused, you have to move to limit it. That’s what we did in the announcement I made last weekend on the public housing projects, about how we’re going to have weapon sweeps.

Talk of the abuses of slavery! Humbug! The thing itself is the essence of all abuse!

No government power can be abused long. Mankind will not bear it…. There is a remedy in human nature against tyranny, that will keep us safe under every form of government.

I ask you in circles, and you shape them as triangles in my head.

Through the machineries of greed, pettiness, and the abuse of power, love occurs.

What white man has ever seen me drunk? Who has ever come to me hungry and left me unfed? Who has seen me beat my wives or abuse my children? What law have I broken?

The most personal thing I’ve put in [Touch of Evil] is my hatred of the abuse of police power. It’s better to see a murderer go free than for a policeman to abuse his power.

We were electric together, you and me; we turned hurting each other into a goddamned symphony.