We should always go before our enemies with confidence, otherwise our apparent uneasiness inspires them with greater boldness.
Good and decent people must be protected and persuaded by gentle means, but the rabble must be led by terror.
I made all my generals out of mud.
In political administration, no problem is ever simple. It can never be reduced to the question whether a certain measure is good or not.
Democracy, if it is reasonable, limits itself to giving everyone an equal opportunity to compete and to obtain.
Bloodletting is among the ingredients of political medicine.
Passions change, politics are immutable.
A King should sacrifice the best affections of his heart for the good of his country; no sacrifice should be above his determination.
Passionate people invariably deny their anger, and cowards often boast their ignorance of fear.
Lack is more in means, than in principles.
God has given me the will and the force to overcome all obstacles.
When you set out to take Vienna, take Vienna.
A portion of the multitude must ever be coerced.
We must serve the people worthily, and not occupy ourselves in trying to please them. The best way, to gain their affections is to do them good.
When Monarchs abuse the rights with which they have been invested by the confidence of the people, and bring down upon their heads the calamity of war, the people have the right to withdraw their allegiance.
I am conquered less by fortune than by the egotism and ingratitude of my companions in arms.
Friends must always be treated as if one day they might be enemies.
Flatterers and men of learning do not accord well with each other.
Pure politics is merely the calculus of combinations and of chances.
The policies of all powers are inherent in their geography.