In practice we always base our preparations against an enemy on the assumption that his plans are good; indeed, it is right to rest our hopes not on a belief in his blunders, but on the soundness of our provisions. Nor ought we to believe that there is much difference between man and man, but to think that the superiority lies with him who is reared in the severest school.

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

Men do not rest content with parrying the attacks of a superior, but often strike the first blow to prevent the attack being made.

We must remember that one man is much the same as another, and that he is best who is trained in the severest school.

You should punish in the same manner those who commit crimes with those who accuse falsely.

I think the two things most opposed to good counsel are haste and passion; haste usaully goes hand in hand with folly, passion with coarseness and narrowness of mind.

There is no need to suppose that human beings differ very much one from another; but it is true that the ones who come out on top are the ones who have been trained in the hardest school.