Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy, and the lash.

Their insatiable lust for power is only equaled by their incurable impotence in exercising it.

Politics is almost as exciting as war, and quite as dangerous. In war you can only be killed once, but in politics many times.

The Russians will try all the rooms in a house, enter those that are not locked, and when they come to one that cannot be broken into, they will withdraw and invite you to dine genially that same evening.

I was only the servant of my country and had I, at any moment, failed to express her unflinching resolve to fight and conquer, I should at once have been rightly cast aside.

I have had a number of threatening letters each week, some telling me the actual time and method of my death, and I don't like it.

A gentleman is a man who is only rude when he intends to be.