In politics nothing is immutable. Events carry within them an invincible power. The unwise destroy themselves in resistance. The skillful accept events, take strong hold of them and direct them.

The true policy of government is to make use of aristocracy, but under the forms and in the spirit of democracy.

Clearly, the pleasures wines afford are transitory - but so are those of the ballet, or of a musical performance. Wine is inspiring and adds greatly to the joy of living.

In war, the moral is to the physical as three is to one.

The best cure for the body is a quiet mind.

There is no such thing as an accident, only a failure to recognise the hand of fate

From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have noted that, in the most momentous occasions, mere nothings have always decided the outcome of the greatest events.