"There are three kinds of intellects: one understands things by itself, the other discerns what others understand, and the third understands neither by itself nor through others. The first is excellent…"

"Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries—for heavy ones they cannot."

"Men are always averse to new things, and it is very hard to persuade them to change."

"He who desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with the assumption that all men are bad, and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it."

"Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling."