Those who have experienced good and bad luck many times have every reason to be skeptical of successes

War is a matter not so much of arms as of money.

If you give way, you will instantly have to meet some greater demand, as having been frightened into obedience in the first instance; while a firm refusal will make them clearly understand that they must treat you more as equals.

For they had learned that true safety was to be found in long previous training, and not in eloquent exhortations uttered when they were going into action.

Three of the gravest failings, want of sense, of courage, or of vigilance.

Love of power, operating through greed and through personal ambition, was the cause of all these evils.

Abstinence from all injustice to other first-rate powers is a greater tower of strength than anything that can be gained by the sacrifice of permanent tranquillity for an apparent temporary advantage.