Never take anything for granted.

Great men should think of opportunity and not of time. That is the excuse of feeble and puzzled spirits.

The most powerful men are not public men: a public man is responsible, and a responsible man is a slave. It is private life that governs the world.

Man is only great when he acts from passion.

The girl of the period sets up to be natural, and is only rude; mistakes insolence for innocence; says everything that comes first to her lips, and thinks she is gay when she is only giddy.

The services in wartime are fit only for desperadoes, but in peace are only fit for fools.

Under this roof are the heads of the family of Rothschild - a name famous in every capital of Europe and every division of the globe. If you like, we shall divide the United States into two parts, one for you, James [Rothschild], and one for you, Lionel [Rothschild]. Napoleon will do exactly and all that I shall advise him.