A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.

The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

And truly it is a very natural and ordinary thing to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will be praised or not blamed; but when they cannot, and wish to do it anyway, here lies the error and the blame.

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.

The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.

To keep your actions and your plans secret always has been a very good thing . .. Marcus Crassus said to one who asked him when he was going to move the army: 'Do you believe that you will be the only one not to hear the trumpet?