“Like other men, I have sought honours and preferment, and often have o...” — Francesco Guicciardini Quote

“Like other men, I have sought honours and preferment, and often have obtained them beyond my wishes or hopes. Yet never have I found in them that content which I had figured beforehand in my mind. A strong reason, if we well consider it, why we should disencumber ourselves of vain desires.”

“There is nothing so fleeting as the memory of benefits received.”

“Conspiracies, since they cannot be engaged in without the fellowship of others, are for that reason most perilous; for as most men are either fools or knaves, we run excessive risk in making such folk our companions.”

“I'm interested in how we can put political principles into practice in our personal lives and the limits of theory when it comes to our desires and needs.”

“Everybody has their own desires.”

“Yes, I will promise you anything your little elector heart desires... Of course, I have no intention of keeping any promise I make.”