-
In war, three-quarters turns on personal character and relations; the balance of manpower and materials counts only for the remaining quarter.
-
Incidents should not govern policy; but, policy incidents.
-
Ability is of little account without opportunity. I have very rarely met with two o'clock in the morning courage: I mean instantaneous courage.
-
Audacity succeeds as often as it fails; in life it has an even chance.
-
Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.
-
The great art of governing consists in not letting men grow old in their jobs.
-
All men of genius, and all those who have gained rank in the republic of letters, are brothers, whatever may be the land of their nativity.
-
A true master of politics is able to calculate, down to the smallest fraction, the advantages to which he may put his very faults.
-
Power is what they like - it is the greatest of all aphrodisiacs.
-
There are two levers for moving men - interest and fear.
-
One must indeed be ignorant of the methods of genius to suppose that it allows itself to be cramped by forms. Forms are for mediocrity, and it is fortunate that mediocrity can act only according to routine. Ability takes its flight unhindered.
-
True wisdom for a general is vigorous determination.
-
One might as well try to charge through a wall.
-
Occupation is the scythe of time.
-
How many seemingly impossible things have been accomplished by resolute men because they had to do, or die?
-
Greatness be nothing unless it be lasting.
-
I like honest men of all colors.
-
Those who are free from common prejudices acquire others.
-
There is no power without justice.
-
To imagine that it is possible to perform great military deeds without fighting is just empty dreams.
-
A man like me troubles himself little about a million men.
-
It is the business of cavalry to follow up the victory, and to prevent the beaten army from rallying.
-
A people which is able to say everything becomes able to do everything.
-
Tragedy warms the soul, elevates the heart, can and ought to create heroes. In this sense, perhaps, France owes a part of her great actions to Corneille.