Men of sense often learn from their enemies. It is from their foes, not their friends, that cities learn the lesson of building high walls and ships of war.

A man may learn wisdom even from a foe.

[Y]ou [man] are fool enough, it seems, to dare to war with [woman=] me, when for your faithful ally you might win me easily.

By words the mind is winged.

Look at the orators in our republics; as long as they are poor, both state and people can only praise their uprightness; but once they are fattened on the public funds, they conceive a hatred for justice, plan intrigues against the people and attack the democracy.

If you strike upon a thought that baffles you, break off from that entanglement and try another, so shall your wits be fresh to start again.

To plunder, to lie, to show your arse, are three essentials for climbing high.