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.

The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so that the desire being always greater than the acquisition, there results discontent with the possession and little satisfaction to themselves from it. From this arises the changes in their fortunes; for as men desire, some to have more, some in fear of losing their acquisition, there ensues enmity and war, from which results the ruin of that province and the elevation of another.

Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony

it is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.

And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.