France will always be a great nation.

I may have had many projects, but I never was free to carry out any of them.

It is only with prudence, sagacity, and much dexterity that great aims are accomplished, and all obstacles surmounted. Otherwise nothing is accomplished.

My success and everything good that I have done, I owe to my mother.

In order to govern, the question is not to follow out a more or less valid theory but to build with whatever materials are at hand. The inevitable must be accepted and turned to advantage.

If we could read the past histories of all our enemies we would disregard all hostility for them.

Military despotism represses generous sentiments, priestly tyranny stifles them.