If unable to abstain from drinking, a man may get drunk three times a month; if he does it more than three times he is culpable; if he gets drunk twice a month it is better; if once a month, this is still more laudable; and if one does not drink at all what can be better? But where can I find such a man? If such a man were found he would be worthy of the highest esteem.

The strength of walls depends on the courage of those who guard them.

A leader can never be happy until his people are happy.

If my body dies, let my body die, but do not let my country die.

Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.

Heaven has appointed me to rule all the nations, for hitherto there has been no order upon the steppes.

A man's greatest work is to break his enemies, to drive them before him, to take from them all the things that have been theirs, to hear the weeping of those who cherished them, to take their horses between his knees and to press in his arms the most desirable of their women.