The peasant wants only to be left alone to prosper in peace.

There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.

He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.

From the latter he is defended by being well armed and having good allies, and if he is well armed he will have good friends, and affairs will always remain quiet within when they are quiet without, unless they should have been already disturbed by conspiracy; and even should affairs outside be disturbed, if he has carried out his preparations and has lived as I have said, as long as he does not despair, he will resist every attack.

For this is the tragedy of man circumstances change, but he does not.

A blast in the human breast is nothing to boast of.

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