It has never occurred to me to wish for empire or royalty, nor for the eminence of those high and commanding fortunes. My aim lies not in that direction; I love myself too well.

I may indeed very well happen to contradict myself; but truth, as Demades said, I do not contradict.

I had rather complain of ill-fortune than be ashamed of victory.

Truly man is a marvelously vain, diverse, and undulating object. It is hard to found any constant and uniform judgment on him.

If I am to serve as an instrument of deceit, at least let it be with a clear conscience. I do not want to be considered either so affectionate or so loyal a servant as to be found fit to betray anyone.

He who falls obstinate in his courage, if he falls he fights from his knees.

On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.