Prince Metternich

"He who controls the past controls the future."

"In great matters men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small matters as they are."

"The only real political weapon is time."

"A man should not strive to eliminate his complexities but to probe them."

"Adaptation is not weakness but supreme wisdom."

"The genius of deception lies in the truth."

"Nations are not governed by talk but by understanding."

"The greatest pleasure is to accomplish what others thought impossible."

"Reflection is the enemy of action; thought is the mother of failure."

"To speak is silver; to remain silent is gold."

"The present state of the world is one of universal inebriation."

"In politics, conscience is subordinate to necessity."

"True influence comes from understanding human nature."

"The fear of God is the beginning of all true knowledge."

"To be prepared is half the victory."

"The balance of power is the essence of political security."

"A wise man learns from his enemies."

"The art of living is the art of knowing what to overlook."

"Success belongs to the persistent and methodical."

"The world is simply a school of virtue."

"Order must be established before liberty can flourish."

"Every man has his own particular passion."

"The mark of a good leader is humility in victory."

"True character is revealed in adversity."

"Nations rise and fall with the strength of their principles."

"To do nothing is sometimes the greatest achievement."

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it."

"Compromise is the art of dividing the cake fairly."

"A nation without memory is a nation without future."

"The secret of government is constancy of purpose."