You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

When evening comes, I return home and go into my study. On the threshold I strip off my muddy, sweaty clothes of everyday, and put on the robes of court and palace, and in this graver dress I enter the antique courts of the ancients and am welcomed by them, and there I taste the food that alone is mine, and for which I was born. And there I make bold to speak to them and ask the motives of their actions, and they, in their humanity, reply to me. And for the space of four hours I forget the world, remember no vexation, fear poverty no more, tremble no more at death; I pass indeed into their world.

To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.

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

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.

The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.