Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.

A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.

There are three kinds of brains: One understands of itself, another can be taught to understand, and the third can neither understand to itself or be taught to understand.

War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.

No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.

The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.

The nature of man is such that people consider themselves put under an obligation as much by the benefits they confer as by those they receive.