"The desire to acquire is truly a very natural and common thing; and when men who are able to do so acquire, they are always praised and not blamed; but when they are not able to do so, and yet wish to…"

"Men must either be caressed or annihilated; they will revenge themselves for slight wrongs, but not for great ones."

"He who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that power has been effected either by industry or by force, and both of these are suspicious to the one who has been raised to powe…"

"The injury that is to be done to a man must be such that one need not fear his revenge."

"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws."