I start out by believing the worst

It is in times of difficulty that great nations like great men display the whole energy of their character and become an object of admiration to posterity.

My star was fading, I felt the reins slipping out of my grasp, and could do nothing to stop it.

Impatience is a great obstacle to success; he who treats everything with brusqueness gathers nothing, or only immature fruit which will never ripen.

The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon one's self to destiny.

You don't govern men who don't have religion, you shoot them.

He is almost a statesman. He lies well.