You must not fight too often with one enemy, or you will teach him all your art of war. art & war
Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich. religion
Doctors will have more lives to answer for in the next world than even we generals. medical
Courage is like love it must have hope for nourishment. courage, hope & love
Men are more easily governed through their vices than through their virtues. men
History is a set of lies agreed upon. history
Music is the voice that tells us that the human race is greater than it knows. music
A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon. war
There are only two forces that unite men - fear and interest. fear & men
Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever. history
The people to fear are not those who disagree with you, but those who disagree with you and are too cowardly to let you know. fear
The best cure for the body is a quiet mind. best
Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in. time
Religion is excellent stuff for keeping common people quiet. religion
When small men attempt great enterprises, they always end by reducing them to the level of their mediocrity. greatness & men
Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest. fear & men
The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue courage is only the second virtue. courage
Skepticism is a virtue in history as well as in philosophy. history
Death is nothing, but to live defeated and inglorious is to die daily. death
I am sometimes a fox and sometimes a lion. The whole secret of government lies in knowing when to be the one or the other. government
If you wish to be a success in the world, promise everything, deliver nothing. success
He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander. politics
War is the business of barbarians. business & war
The herd seek out the great, not for their sake but for their influence and the great welcome them out of vanity or need. greatness
One should never forbid what one lacks the power to prevent. power
One must change one's tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one's superiority. change
The best way to keep one's word is not to give it. best
Imagination rules the world. imagination
If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots. peace
The truest wisdom is a resolute determination. wisdom
There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time. men & time
What is history but a fable agreed upon? history
History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. history
In politics... never retreat, never retract... never admit a mistake. politics
A leader is a dealer in hope. hope & leadership
The human race is governed by its imagination. imagination
Power is my mistress. I have worked too hard at her conquest to allow anyone to take her away from me. power
Women are nothing but machines for producing children. women
Respect the burden. respect
All religions have been made by men. men
To do all that one is able to do, is to be a man to do all that one would like to do, is to be a god. God
It requires more courage to suffer than to die. courage
Men take only their needs into consideration - never their abilities. men
You must not fear death, my lads defy him, and you drive him into the enemy's ranks. death & fear
If I had to choose a religion, the sun as the universal giver of life would be my god. God, life & religion
It is the cause, not the death, that makes the martyr. death
In politics stupidity is not a handicap. politics
A picture is worth a thousand words. art
The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind. communication & strength
The great proof of madness is the disproportion of one's designs to one's means. greatness