“War is just to those to whom war is necessary.”

Better and safer is an assured peace than a victory hoped for. The one is in your own power, the other is in the hands of the gods.

No law is sufficiently convenient to all.

Greater is our terror of the unknown.

There is an old saying which, from its truth, has become proverbial, that friendships should be immortal, enmities mortal.

In war, mere appearances have had all the effect of realities; and that a person, under a firm persuasion that he can command resources, virtually has them; that very prospect inspiring him with hope and boldness in his exertions.

The populace is like the sea motionless in itself, but stirred by every wind, even the lightest breeze.

No man likes to be surpassed by those of his own level.

Men are only clever at shifting blame from their own shoulders to those of others.

Woe to the conquered.

From abundance springs safety.

Under the influence of fear, which always leads men to take a pessimistic view of things, they magnified their enemies’ resources, and minimized their own.

Adversity makes men remember God.

There is nothing that is more often clothed in an attractive garb than a false creed.

Prosperity engenders sloth.

Men are seldom blessed with good fortune and good sense at the same time.

The troubles which have come upon us always seem more serious than those which are only threatening.

Some people choose not to engage the battle and then don’t seek out that kind of success. And others do.

Success should not make you think you are God’s gift to mankind. You should never forget that you are what you are because God chose you to be there.

I don’t start a film with the heroine but with the cinema subject. If there is a woman in the story, she has to be of a particular type. It’s not as if I start with Madhuri Dixit and then think what kind of film.

I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time, so that my children can live in peace.

You make your life choices understanding that you might and do have to work harder to prove yourself.

You can choose your friends but you sho’ can’t choose your family, an’ they’re still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge ’em or not, and it makes you look right silly when you don’t.

I would rather be ashes than dust.

I am buying the most unpopular, most battered stocks, but then who knows?