Keep the extent of your abilities unknown.The wise man does not allow his knowledge and abilities to be sounded to the bottom, if he desires to be honored at all. He allows you to know them but not to comprehend them. No one must know the extent of his abilities, lest he be disappointed. No one ever has an opportunity of fathoming him entirely. For guesses and doubts about the extent of his talents arouse more veneration than accurate knowledge of them, be they ever so great.

When you counsel someone, you should appear to be reminding him of something he had forgotten, not of the light he was unable to see.

Exaggeration is a prodigality of the judgment which shows the narrowness of one's knowledge or one's taste.

Some are satisfied to stand politely before the portals of Fortune and to await her bidding; better those who push forward, who employ their enterprise, who on the wings of their worth and valor seek to embrace luck, and to effectively gain her favor.

Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick in the pants will take you a long way.

Be known for pleasing others, especially if you govern them. Ruling other has one advantage: you can do more good than anyone else.

He that has satisfied his thirst turns his back on the well.