Under the influence of fear, which always leads men to take a pessimistic view of things, they magnified their enemies' resources, and minimized their own.
The best known evil is the most tolerable.
Men's minds are too ready to excuse guilt in themselves.
Avarice and luxury, those evils which have been the ruin of every great state.
Truth is often eclipsed but never extinguished.
Wit is the flower of the imagination.