Don't confuse meaning with truth.

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.

The secret of freedom, courage.

Those who really deserve praise are the people who, while human enough to enjoy power, nevertheless pay more attention to justice than they are compelled to do by their situation.

He passes through life most securely who has least reason to reproach himself with complaisance toward his enemies.

The peoples of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learned to cultivate the olive and the vine.

It is a general rule of human nature that people despise those who treat them well, and look up to those who make no concessions.