“Avarice and luxury, those evils which have been the ruin of every great state.”

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.

All things will be clear and distinct to the man who does not hurry; haste is blind and improvident.

There is nothing worse than being ashamed of parsimony or poverty.

Wit is the flower of the imagination.

Those ills are easiest to bear with which we are most familiar.

Friendships ought to be immortal, hostilities mortal.

Necessity is the last and strongest weapon.

Temerity is not always successful.

Persevere in virtue and diligence.

Luck is of little moment to the great general, for it is under the control of his intellect and his judgment.

Great contests generally excite great animosities.

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer. And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.

We have always believed that it’s possible to make money without being evil.

Ignorance, the root and stem of every evil.

There is no greater evil one can suffer than to hate reasonable discourse.

I know many books which have bored their readers, but I know of none which has done real evil.

The evil that is in the world almost always comes from ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.

The misuse of language induces evil in the soul.