“A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.”

“A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.”

“Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods.”

“A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.”

“He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.”

“Go, bid the soldiers shoot.”

“Give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fight like devils.”

“We proceeded systematically, village by village and we destroyed the houses, filled up the wells, blew down the towers, cut down the shady trees, burned the crops and broke the reservoirs in punitive devastation.”