Rashness succeeds often, still more often fails.

Democracy may become frenzied, but it has feelings and can be moved. As for aristocracy, it is always cold and never forgives.

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.

War is a lottery in which nations ought to risk nothing but small amounts.

To imagine that it is possible to perform great military deeds without fighting is just empty dreams.

They wanted me to be a Washington.

There are only two forces that unite men - fear and interest.