One arises from a low to a high station more often by using fraud instead of force.

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.

Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose.

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.

I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles