There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.

The Romans never allowed a trouble spot to remain simply to avoid going to war over it, because they knew that wars don't just go away, they are only postponed to someone else's advantage. Therefore, they made war with Philip and Antiochus in Greece, in order not to have to fight them in Italy... They never went by that saying which you constantly hear from the wiseacres of our day, that time heals all things. They trusted rather their own character and prudence- knowing perfectly well that time contains the seeds of all things, good as well as bad.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge.