The government will take the fairest of names, but the worst of realities--mob rule.

Monarchy degenerates into tyranny, aristocracy into oligarchy, and democracy into savage violence and chaos.

From this I conclude that the best education for the situations of actual life consists of the experience we acquire from the study of serious history. For it is history alone which without causing us harm enables us to judge what is the best course in any situation or circumstance.

Knowing how to win is the first step. We must also know how to make use of our victories.

Nor ought we ever to allow any growing power to acquire such a degree of strength as to be able to tear from us, without resistance, our natural, undisputed rights.

When the ancients said a work well begun was half done, they meant to impress the importance of always endeavoring to make a good beginning.

That historians should give their own country a break, I grant you; but not so as to state things contrary to fact. For there are plenty of mistakes made by writers out of ignorance, and which any man finds it difficult to avoid. But if we knowingly write what is false, whether for the sake of our country or our friends or just to be pleasant, what difference is there between us and hack writers? Readers should be very attentive to and critical of historians, and they in turn should be constantly on their guard.