Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
The conqueror is regarded with awe; the wise man commands our respect; but it is only the benevolent man that wins our affection.
The enemies cannot destroy the king who has at his service the respect and friendship of the wise men who can find fault, disagree, and correct him.
The wise learn many things from their enemies.
The enlightened ruler is heedful, and the good general full of caution.
The general who advances without coveting fame and retreats without fearing disgrace, whose only thought is to protect his country and do good service for his sovereign, is the jewel of the kingdom.
Ignorance has always been the weapon of tyrants; enlightenment the salvation of the free.
Those who have wrought great changes in the world never succeeded by gaining over chiefs; but always by exciting the multitude. The first is the resource of intrigue and produces only secondary results, the second is the resort of genius and transforms the universe.
This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.
Man is capable of every great heroism; it was man who found a means of conquering the formidable obstacles of his environment, establishing himself lord of the earth, and laying the foundations of civilization.
For a man to conquer himself is the first and noblest of all victories.