Fortune rules in all things, and advances and depresses things more out of her own will than right and justice.

The poorest of men are the most useful to those seeking power.

Deliberate before you begin; but, having carefully done so, execute with vigour.

A small state increases by concord; the greatest falls gradually to ruin by dissension.

Again, if the world is destroyed, it must needs either be destroyed according to nature or against nature. Against nature is impossible, for that which is against nature is not stronger than nature. If according to nature, there must be another nature which changes the nature of the world: which does not appear.

A good man prefers to suffer rather than overcome injustice with evil.

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.