There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.

Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.

God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.

Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.

....for friendships that are acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of character are purchased but are not owned, and at the proper moment they cannot be spent.

Hence it comes that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

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.