And when he is obliged to take the life of any one, to do so when there is a proper justification and manifest reason for it; but above all he must abstain from taking the property of others, for men forget more easily the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

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.

Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

He who is the cause of another's advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.

Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.

You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his mediocrity prevents him from being a threat to others. And for this reason a democracy is never governed by the most competent, but rather by those whose insignificance will not jeopardize anyone else's self-esteem.