So little trouble do men take in the search after truth; so readily do they accept whatever comes first to hand.

In generosity we are equally singular, acquiring our friends by conferring, not by receiving, favours.

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.

For the love of gain would reconcile the weaker to the dominion of the stronger, and the possession of capital enabled the more powerful to reduce the smaller cities to subjection.

Knowledge without understanding is useless.

Right, as the world goes, is only in question between equals in power, while the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

When a man finds a conclusion agreeable, he accepts it without argument, but when he finds it disagreeable, he will bring against it all the forces of logic and reason.