Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless.

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

...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.

Men as a whole judge more with their eyes than with their hands.