Wars spring from unseen and generally insignificant causes, the first outbreak being often but an explosion of anger.

For so remarkably perverse is the nature of man that he despises whoever courts him, and admires whoever will not bend before him.

I could have wished that the reputations of many brave men were not to be imperilled in the mouth of a single individual, to stand or fall according as he spoke well or ill. For it is hard to speak properly upon a subject where it is even difficult to convince your hearers that you are speaking the truth.

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.

When one is deprived of ones liberty, one is right in blaming not so much the man who puts the shackles on as the one who had the power to prevent him, but did not use it.

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

The whole earth is the sepulchre of famous men.