War is one of the scourges with which it has pleased God to afflict men.

Secrecy is the first essential in affairs of state.

Reason must be the universal rule and guide; all things must be done according to reason without allowing oneself to be swayed by emotion.

One must believe neither the people of the palace, who ordinarily measure the power of the king by the shape of his crown, which, being round, has no end, nor …

I am the flail of god. Had you not created great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.

The religious life, and all the agony that goes with it, is just something God sics on people who have the gall to accuse Him of having created an ugly world.

May God Almighty give our work His blessing, strengthen our purpose, and endow us with wisdom and the trust of our people, for we are fighting not for ourselve…