He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed.

A good man would prefer to be defeated than to defeat injustice by evil means.

Just to stir things up seemed a great reward in itself.

No man underestimates the wrongs he suffers; many take them more seriously than is right.

By union the smallest states thrive. By discord the greatest are destroyed.

In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.

All who consult on doubtful matters, should be void of hatred, friendship, anger, and pity.

In my opinion, he only may be truly said to live and enjoy his being who is engaged in some laudable pursuit, and acquires a name by some illustrious action, or useful art.

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.

Harmony makes small things grow, lack of it makes great things decay.

Distinguished ancestors shed a powerful light on their descendants, and forbid the concealment either of their merits or of their demerits.

In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.

Think like a man of action, and act like a man of thought.

He that will be angry for anything will be angry for nothing.

To like and dislike the same things, this is what makes a solid friendship.

The higher your station, the less your liberty.

Ambition breaks the ties of blood, and forgets the obligations of gratitude.

Small communities grow great through harmony, great ones fall to pieces through discord.

No mortal man has ever served at the same time his passions and his best interests.

The firmest friendship is based on an identity of likes and dislikes.

He only seems to me to live, and to make proper use of life, who sets himself some serious work to do, and seeks the credit of a task well and skillfully performed.

Every man is the architect of his own fortune.

Necessity makes even the timid brave.

Those most moved to tears by every word of a preacher are generally weak and a rascal when the feelings evaporate.

Do as much as possible, and talk of yourself as little as possible.

Every bad precedent originated as a justifiable measure.

As the blessings of health and fortune have a beginning, so they must also find an end. Everything rises but to fall, and increases but to decay.

Everything that rises sets, and everything that grows, grows old.

Before you act, consider; when you have considered, tis fully time to act.

Most honorable are services rendered to the State; even if they do not go beyond words, they are not to be despised.

They envy the distinction I have won; let them therefore, envy my toils, my honesty, and the methods by which I gained it.

We employ the mind to rule, the body to serve.

It is a law of human nature that in victory even the coward may boast of his prowess, while defeat injures the reputation even of the brave.

All those who offer an opinion on any doubtful point should first clear their minds of every sentiment of dislike, friendship, anger or pity.

Ambition drove many men to become false; to have one thought locked in the breast, another ready on the tongue.

In my own case, who have spent my whole life in the practice of virtue, right conduct from habitual has become natural.

The glory that goes with wealth is fleeting and fragile; virtue is a possession glorious and eternal.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.

Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master.

It is better to use fair means and fail, than foul and conquer.

The fame that goes with wealth and beauty is fleeting and fragile; intellectual superiority is a possession glorious and eternal.