Rashness succeeds often, still more often fails.

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

In a battle, as in a siege, the art consists in concentrating very heavy fire on a particular point. The line of battle once established, the one who has the ability to concentrate an unlooked for mass of artillery suddenly and unexpectedly on one of these points is sure to carry the day.

A fool is only troublesome, a pedant insupportable.

England would be better off without Canada; it keeps her in a prepared state for war at a great expense and constant irritation.

All great events hang by a single thread. The clever man takes advantage of everything, neglects nothing that may give him some added opportunity; the less clever man, by neglecting one thing, sometimes misses everything.

Ambition never is in a greater hurry that I; it merely keeps pace with circumstances and with my general way of thinking.