"If Heaven grants the Mandate only to the just, then no throne is secure unless it is governed with virtue."
"A dynasty falls not because Heaven grows weary, but because its rulers have forgotten the order that Heaven requires..."
"Perhaps Europe's present condition should not cause us to fear a new Rome; perhaps the mighty strides with which France has approached her goal count for nothing, and the balance of power, already ruined, will reassert itself according to the immutable laws of nature, through new and terrible wars, or a peaceful exchange of territory. And yet a forgivable fear still lingers in our soul! Fear? Absolutely! Consider that France, exactly as she appears today, is merely an object of wonder and admiration - and cowardly idolatry - by the rest of Europe. No one can deny a nation the right to fight for its interests with all its strength, to free itself from slavery - not even France can be criticized if she plants her foot on our back and extends her realm of frightened vassals to the polar sea. But must this inspire nothing but timidity? Greatness makes this sort of impression only on cowards. Among men of courage and strength, greatness inspires greatness in return, it awakens courage and noble pride, it sows the seeds of great deeds. What, then, does this idolatry signify? Are we really such a cowardly race that we dare not measure ourselves against this proud conqueror? To believe this, there lies the cowardice! Have we really sunk so low that we consider it honorable to bow down abjectly before another nation, to lose ourselves in its glory and interests?"
- Carl von Clausewitz, Notes on History and Politics 1803