Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.

If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains.

Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

I hold strongly to this: that it is better to be impetuous than circumspect; because fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her.

When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment; when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.

Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion.