Fear is secured by a dread of punishment.

One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.

Nothing feeds upon itself as liberality does.

When you disarm your subjects, however, you offend them by showing that either from cowardliness or lack of faith, you distrust them; and either conclusion will induce them to hate you.

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.

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