More men are guilty of treason through weakness than any studied design to betray.
Great and glorious events which dazzle the beholder are represented by politicians as the outcome of grand designs whereas they are usually products of temperaments and passions.
Most men expose themselves in battle enough to save their honor, few wish to do so more than sufficiently, or than is necessary to make the design for which they expose themselves succeed.
Men may boast of their great actions; but they are more often the effects of chance than of design.
Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.
Treachery is more often the effect of weakness than of a formed design.
Those great and glorious actions that dazzle our eyes with their luster are represented by statesmen as the result of great wisdomand excellent design; whereas, in truth, they are commonly the effects of the humors and passions.
Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.
