Misfortuneis not that which can be avoided, but that which cannot.

Far better to think historically, to remember the lessonsof the past. Thus, far better to conceive of power as consisting in part ofthe knowledge of when not to use all the power you have. Far better to be onewho knows that if you reserve the power not to

A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor is a man perfected without trials.

Grantgraciously what you cannot refuse safely and conciliate those you cannotconquer.

Pessimism, when you get used to it, is just as agreeable as optimism.

The fibers of all things have their tension and are strainedlike the strings of an instrument.

Frustration is commonly the difference between what you would like to be and what you are willing to become what you would like to be.

It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's moretrue that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted byother things than power.

Am Inot destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

Conflictis inevitable, but combat is optional.

Conflictcan destroy a team which hasn't spent time learning to deal with it.

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.