There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them if they will not apply themselves to me.

The honor we receive from those that fear us, is not honor; those respects are paid to royalty and not to me.

It is a stupid presumption to go about despising and condemning as false anything that seems to us improbable; this is a common fault in those who think they have more intelligence than the crowd.

We took advantage of [the Indians'] ignorance and inexperience to incline them the more easily toward treachery, lewdness, avarice, and every sort of inhumanity and cruelty, after the example and pattern of our ways.

Once you have decided to keep a certain pile, it is no longer yours; for you can't spend it.

Whatever is enforced by command is more imputed to him who exacts than to him who performs.