Women are the most charitable creatures, and the most troublesome. He who shuns women passes up the trouble, but also the benefits. He who puts up with them gains the benefits, but also the trouble. As the saying goes, there's no honey without bees.

Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.

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

Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.

There are three kinds of brains. The one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others.

Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.