God creates men, but they choose each other.
Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.
War brings out thieves and peace hangs them.
A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.
The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.