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It is the characteristic excellence of the strong man that he can bring momentous issues to the fore and make a decision about them. The weak are always forced to decide between alternatives they have not chosen themselves.

Misfortune seldom intrudes upon the wise man; his greatest and highest interests are directed by reason throughout the course of life.

Kings may be judges of the earth, but wise men are the judges of kings.

Stronger by weakness, wiser men become.

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.

It is the misfortune of those who are concerned in conducting human affairs that, however pure and capacious their own conceptions may be, they must accommodate themselves to the circumstances with which they are environed and use the instruments that are within their reach.

The weak in courage is strong in cunning.

A ruler makes use of the majority and neglects the minority, and so he does not devote himself to virtue but to law.

In politics a capable ruler must be guided by circumstances, conjectures and conjunctions.

Tyrants are seldom free; the cares and the instruments of their tyranny enslave them.