I do not believe it is in our nature to love impartially. We deceive ourselves when we think we can love two beings, even our own children, equally. There is always a dominant affection.

I cannot believe there is a god who punishes and rewards, for I see honest folk unlucky, and rogues unlucky.

Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

Tis a principle of war that when you can use the lightning, 'tis better than cannon.

To understand the man you have to know what was happening in the world when he was twenty.

No one but myself can be blamed for my fall. I have been my own greatest enemy-the cause of my own disastrous fate.

Great men are meteors designed to burn so that earth may be lighted.