One should never allow chaos to develop in order to avoid going to war, because one does not avoid a war but instead puts it off to his disadvantage

Appear as you may wish to be

Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity.