A virtuous and well-disposed person, like a good metal, the more he is fired, the more he is fined; the more he is opposed, the more he is approved: wrongs may well try him, and touch him, but cannot imprint in him any false stamp.

First, all means to conciliate; failing that, all means to crush.

Who will be my equal?

We may employ artifice to deceive a rival, anything against our enemies.

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

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

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