"I may have had many projects, but I never was free to carry out any of them. It did me little good to be holding the helm; no matter how strong my hands, the sudden and numerous waves were stronger still, and I was wise enough to yield to them rather than resist them obstinately and make the ship founder. Thus I never was truly my own master but was always ruled by circumstances."

“A constitution should be framed so as not to impede the action of government, nor force the government to its violation.”

“The superior man is never in anyone's way.”

“Obedience to public authority ought not to be based either on ignorance or stupidity.”

“Never march by flank in front of an army in position. This principle is absolute.”

“Tristan is very idle. He confessed to the Emperor that he did not work every day. "Do you not eat every day?" said the Emperor to him; "Yes, Sire." "Well, then, you ought to work every day; no one should eat who does not work." "Oh! if that be the case, I will work every day," said the child, quickly. "Such is the influence of the belly," said the Emperor, tapping that of little Tristan. "It is hunger that makes the world move.”

“England will repent of bringing the Russians so far: they will deprive her of India.”