If there is no means to prevent drunkenness, a man may become drunk thrice a month; if he oversteps this limit he makes himself guilty of a punishable offence. If he is drunk only twice a month, that is better - if only once, that is more praiseworthy. What could be better than that he should not drink at all? But where shall we find a man who never drinks? If, however, such a man is found, he deserves every respect.

Heaven has appointed me to rule all the nations, for hitherto there has been no order upon the steppes.

Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.

The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride th…

I exercise extreme self control. I never drink anything stronger than gin before breakfast.

Why should we desire the destruction of human passions? Take passions from human beings and what is left? The great object should be not to destroy passions, b…

A custom loathsome to the eye, hateful to the nose, harmful to the brain, dangerous to the lungs, and in the black, stinking fume thereof, nearest resembling t…