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

The worse the man the better the soldier. If soldiers be not corrupt they ought to be made so.

The most terrible of all my battles was the one before Moscow. The French showed themselves to be worthy of victory, but the Russians showed themselves worthy of being invincible.

A book in which there were no lies would be a curiosity.

The advance and perfecting of mathematics are closely joined to the prosperity of the nation.

Water, air, and cleanness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.

Many a one commits a reprehensible action, who is at bottom an honourable man, because man seldom acts upon natural impulse, but from some secret passion of the moment which lies hidden and concealed within the narrowest folds of his heart.