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

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.

Those who know how to win are much more numerous than those who know how to make proper use of their victories.

We can profit only by our own misfortunes and those of others. The former, though they may be the more beneficial, are also the more painful; let us turn, then, to the latter.

A good general not only sees the way to victory; he also knows when victory is impossible.

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.

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