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

When I had the honor to be a second lieutenant, I ate dry bread, but I never let anyone know that I was poor.

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

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

A commander in chief ought to say to himself several times a day: If the enemy should appear on my front, on my right, on my left, what would I do? And if the question finds him uncertain, he is not well placed, he is not as he should be, and he should remedy it.

The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know.

I made all my generals out of mud.