We must distinguish between those who depend on others, that is between those who to achieve their purposes can force the issue and those who must use persuasion. In the second case, they always come to grief, having achieved nothing; when, however, they depend on their own resources and can force the issue, then they are seldom endangered.

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

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

Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.

For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob.

It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.

It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.