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It should not be believed that a march of three or four days in the wrong direction can be corrected by a countermarch. As a rule, this is to make two mistakes instead of one.
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There are only two forces that unite men - fear and interest. All great revolutions originate in fear, for the play of interests does not lead to accomplishment.
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Ability is of little account without opportunity. I have very rarely met with two o'clock in the morning courage: I mean instantaneous courage.
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The only one who is wiser than anyone is everyone.
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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.
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Let her sleep, for when she wakes, she will shake the world.
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When you have an enemy in your power, deprive him of the means of ever injuring you.
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Incidents should not govern policy; but, policy incidents.
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Greatness be nothing unless it be lasting.
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The great art of governing consists in not letting men grow old in their jobs.
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One might as well try to charge through a wall.
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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.
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From triumph to downfall there is but one step. I have noted that, in the most momentous occasions, mere nothings have always decided the outcome of the greatest events.
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How many seemingly impossible things have been accomplished by resolute men because they had to do, or die?
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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.
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A true master of politics is able to calculate, down to the smallest fraction, the advantages to which he may put his very faults.
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To imagine that it is possible to perform great military deeds without fighting is just empty dreams.
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There is no power without justice.
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A man who has no consideration for the needs of his men ought never to be given command.
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Power is what they like - it is the greatest of all aphrodisiacs.
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A society without religion is like a vessel without compass.
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I would believe any religion that could prove it had existed since the beginning of the world. But when I see Socrates, Plato, Moses, and Mohammed I do not think there is such a one. All religions owe their origin to man.
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True wisdom for a general is vigorous determination.
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I like honest men of all colors.