If they have real grievances redress them, if possible; or acknowledge the justice of them, and your inability to do it at the moment. If they have not, employ the force of government against them at once.

The great art of governing consists in not letting men grow old in their jobs.

Obedience to public authority ought not to be based either on ignorance or stupidity.

In order to govern, the question is not to follow out a more or less valid theory but to build with whatever materials are at hand. The inevitable must be accepted and turned to advantage.

Large legislative bodies resolve themselves into coteries, and coteries into jealousies.

One must change one's tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one's superiority.