I must protest that I would never seek foreign conflicts just to go over domestic difficulties; that would be frivolous. I was speaking of conflicts that we could not avoid, even though we do not seek them.

A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.

Love is blind; friendship tries not to notice.

I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not inspiring.

There is a Providence that protects idiots, drunkards, children and the United States of America.

To retain respect for sausages and laws, one must not watch them in the making.

When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice.