The love of fame is the last weakness which even the wise resign.

In stirring up tumult and strife, the worst men can do the most, but peace and quiet cannot be established without virtue.

So true is it that all transactions of preeminent importance are wrapt in doubt and obscurity; while some hold for certain facts the most precarious hearsays, others turn facts into falsehood; and both are exaggerated by posterity.

In careless ignorance they think it civilization, when in reality it is a portion of their slavery...To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false pretenses, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace.

People flatter us because they can depend upon our credulity.

The worst hatred is that of relatives.

In the struggle between those seeking power there is no middle course.