Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Ifyou wish to make a man your enemy, tell him simply, 'You are wrong.' Thismethod works every time.

We areall inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts.

It is a strange desire, to seek power, and to loseliberty; or to seek power over others, and to lose power over a man's self.

Only freemen can negotiate. Prisoners cannot enter into contracts. Your freedom andmine cannot be separated.

I hold it to be a proof of great prudence for men toabstain from threats and insulting words toward an enemy, for neither ...diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious,and the other increases his hatred of you and makes him

Man's life would be wretched and confined if it were to missthe candid intimacy developed by mutual trust and esteem.

It is better to trust and sometimes be disappointed thanto be forever mistrusting and be right occasionally.

Power consists in one's capacity to link his will with thepurpose of others, to lead by reason and a gift of cooperation.

If you ain'tnever pick up the sword, you ain't never have to worry about fallin' on it.

It is a lesson which all history teaches wise men, to puttrust in ideas, and not in circumstances.

Somepeople reach the top of the ladder only to find it is leaning against thewrong wall.