Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.

Pleasure and pain are the only springs of action in man, and always will be.

By annihilating desires, you annihilate the mind.

There are men whom a happy disposition, a strong desire of glory and esteem, inspire with the same love for justice and virtue which men in general have for riches and honors. But the number of these men is so small that I only mention them in honor of humanity.

Harsh counsels have no effect; they are like hammers which are always repulsed by the anvil.

To be loved, we should merit but little esteem; all superiority attracts awe and aversion.

Discipline is simply the art of making the soldiers fear their officers more than the enemy.