There are moments of mingled sorrow and tenderness, which hallow the caresses of affection.
A really great man is known by three signs: generosity in the design, humanity in the execution, moderation in success.
A bad plan that is well executed will yield much better results than a good plan that is poorly executed.
Even the most favorable outcome of the war will never lead to the decomposition of the main forces of Russia, which is based on millions of Russian. . . The latter, even if they break up international treaties, just as quickly re-connect with each other, like pieces of a particle of mercury.
When a man says he approves of something in principle, it means he hasn't the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice.
Laws are like medicine; they generally cure an evil by a lesser or a passing evil.
All treaties between great states cease to be binding when they come in conflict with the struggle for existence.
There is a segment of the American population that has been excluded from the national myth, and that should be redressed.
Change isn't easy. . . changing the way you live means changing what you believe about life. That's hard. . . When we make our own misery, we sometimes cling to it even when we want so bad to change because the misery is something we know. The misery is comfortable.
O good old man, how well in thee appears The constant service of the antique world, When service sweat for duty, not for meed! Thou art not for the fashion of these times, Where none will sweat but for promotion, And having that do choke their service up Even with the having. . . .
Poetry is not the record of an event: it is an event.