It is useless to attack men who could not be controlled even if conquered, while failure would leave us in an even worse position.

With reference to the narrative of events, far from permitting myself to derive it from the first source that came to hand, I did not even trust my own impressions, but it rests partly on what I saw myself, partly on what others saw for me, the accuracy of the report always being tried by the most severe and detailed tests possible. My conclusions have cost me some labour from the want of coincidence between accounts of the same occurrences by different eye-witnesses, arising sometimes from imperfect memory, sometimes from undue partiality for one side or the other.

Few things are brought to a successful issue by impetuous desire, but most by calm and prudent forethought.

When tremendous dangers are involved, no one can be blamed for looking to his own interest.

History is Philosophy teaching by example.

Indeed it is generally the case that men are readier to call rogues clever than simpletons honest, and are ashamed of being the second as they are proud of being the first.

Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war.