Revolutions are like the most noxious dungheaps, which bring into life the noblest vegetables.

The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence; and the great welcome them out of vanity or need.

A battle sometimes decides everything; and sometimes the most trifling thing decides the fate of a battle.

The affairs of war, like the destiny of battles, as well as empires, hang upon a spiders thread.

Alexander, Charlemagne and myself all tried to found an empire on force and we failed. Jesus Christ is building an empire on love, and today there are millions of people who would gladly die for His sake.

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

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.