In war one must lean on an obstacle in order to overcome it.

A faithful friend is the true image of the Deity.

I am surrounded by priests who repeat incessantly that their kingdom is not of this world, and yet they lay their hands on everything they can get.

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

Fanaticism must be put to sleep before it can be eradicated.

The only victories which leave no regret are those which are gained over ignorance.

Men have their virtues and their vices, their heroisms and their perversities; men are neither wholly good nor wholly bad, but possess and practice all that there is of good and bad here below. Such is the general rule. Temperament, education, the accidents of life, are modifying factors. Outside of this, everything is ordered arrangement, everything is chance. Such has been my rule of expectation and it has usually brought me success.