He who imitates what is evil always goes beyond the example that is set; on the contrary, he who imitates what is good always falls short.

The affairs of this world are so shifting and depend on so many accidents, that it is hard to form any judgment concerning the future; nay, we see from experience that the forecasts even of the wise almost always turn out false.

If you attempt certain things at the right time, they are easy to accomplish - in fact, they almost get done by themselves. If you undertake them before the time is right, not only will they fail, but they will often become impossible to accomplish even when the time would have been right.

Ambassadors are the eye and ear of states.

He is less likely to be mistaken who looks forward to a change in the affairs of the world than he who regards them as firm and stable.

How much luckier than all the rest of mankind are the astrologers who, if they tell one truth among a hundred lies, obtain so much credit that even their lies are believed.

Let no one trust so entirely to natural prudence as to persuade himself that it will suffice to guide him without help from experience.