To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating changes. The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is lukewarm ... partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience.

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.

Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.

A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.