I have never had any [enemies] other than those of the state.

Bakers of bread rolls and pastry cooks will not buy grain before eleven o'clock in winter and noon in summer.

Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion.

War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men.

To mislead a rival, deception is permissable; one may use all means against his enemies.

Nothing is as dangerous for the state as those who would govern kingdoms with maxims found in books.

A single word has sometimes lost or won an empire.