Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.

It is often found that modesty and humility not only do no good, but are positively hurtful, when they are shown to the arrogant who have taken up a prejudice against you, either from envy or from any other cause.

The world has always been the same; and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.

A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.

And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.

There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.