No government can exist without taxation. The money must necessarily be levied on the people; and the grand art consists of levying so as not to oppress.

To your care and recommendation am I indebted for having replaced a half-blind mathematician with a mathematician with both eyes, which will especially please the anatomical members of my Academy.

It is pardonable to be defeated, but never to be surprised.

Though I may not be a king in my future life, so much the better: I shall nevertheless live an active life and, on top of it, earn less ingratitude.

The people say what they like and then I do what I like

Great advantage is drawn from knowledge of your adversary, and when you know the measure of his intelligence and character, you can use it to play on his weakness.

Great things are achieved only when we take great risks.