There are no small steps in great affairs.

Great men help dazzle the people; after that, they dazzle themselves even more dangerously.

Timorous minds are much more inclined to deliberate than to resolve.

If you have to make an unpopular speech, give it all the sincerity you can muster; that's the only way to sweeten it.

Most men only commit great crimes because of their scruples about petty ones.

The most mistrustful are often the greatest dupes.

When you are obliged to make a statement that you know will cause displeasure, you must say it with every appearance of sincerity; this is the only way to make it palatable.