Twobirds disputed about a kernel, when a third swooped down and carried it off.

If all those who speak would weigh their words, how light air would be!

Neverforget the power of silence, that massively disconcerting pause which goes onand on and may at last induce an opponent to babble and backtrack nervously.

Enthusiasm is faith set on fire.

Glory is a poison that can only be taken in small doses.

Conflictis inevitable, but combat is optional.

Do we wish men to be virtuous? Then let us begin by making them love their country.

There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have.

The exercise of power is determined by thousands ofinteractions between the world of the powerful and that of the powerless, allthe more so because these worlds are never divided by a sharp line: everyonehas a small part of himself in both.

The onesure way to conciliate a tiger is to allow oneself to be devoured.

Keepthings informal. Talking is the natural way to do business. Writing is greatfor keeping records and putting down details, but talk generates ideas. Greatthings come from our luncheon meetings which consist of a sandwich, a cup ofsoup, and a good idea

Reasonguides but a small part of man, and the rest obeys feeling, true or false,and passion, good or bad.