Arthur Wellesley

"One must be cautious about trusting those who claim to have all the answers."

"The greatest victories are often won not in battle, but in the quiet moments of wise deliberation."

"A nation's character is revealed not by its triumphs, but by how it treats those who have lost."

"I have found that the art of conversation is the art of knowing when to speak and when to listen."

"Money, like all power, is best when not wielded ostentatiously."

"The man who boasts of his conquests has already begun his decline."

"In peace, one should act as though war is coming; in war, one should seek peace."

"A good reputation is like a fortress—difficult to build, easy to destroy, impossible to rebuild."

"The intellect of the masses has been greatly overrated by modern philosophers."

"I have never understood why men pursue what will ultimately destroy them."

"The role of a leader is not to be loved, but to be respected and, if possible, feared a little."

"It is strange how readily men accept their own mediocrity when it is dressed in respectability."

"The true measure of a man is not his wealth or position, but his conduct when nobody is watching."

"I have commanded armies, and I can tell you that discipline beats raw talent every time."

"War is a game played by soldiers and lost by civilians."

"The future belongs to those who can adapt without losing their principles."

"A wise man learns from his mistakes; a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others."

"I have never forgiven a betrayal, though I have forgiven many a failure."

"The hardest thing to teach a young man is that his education has only just begun."

"Fashion, like folly, is cyclical—what is ridiculous today becomes fashionable tomorrow."

"One cannot negotiate with those who refuse to negotiate in good faith."

"The ability to remain calm in chaos is what separates the leader from the mob."

"I have spent my life in service, and I have learned that true service requires sacrifice."

"The man who never doubts his own judgment is either a fool or a tyrant."

"Society rewards those who conform and punishes those who excel beyond the expected measure."

"A gentleman's word should be worth more than a thousand contracts."

"The pursuit of happiness, like the pursuit of happiness itself, is often the cause of unhappiness."

"I have found that most political problems can be solved by replacing the people involved."

"The line between courage and recklessness is often drawn by circumstance, not character."

"One should treat all men as equals until they prove themselves otherwise—either better or worse."