Demosthenes: “The forces that we imagine we possess in the mean time, are found, when the crisis comes, utterly insufficient.”

So report says, and I can well believe it; for undeserved success leads weak-minded men into folly; and thus it appears often, that to maintain prosperity is harder than to acquire it.

He would never have commenced this war, had he imagined he must fight.

To censure, I may be told, is easy for any man; to show what measures the case requires, is the part of a counselor.

You need not pry into the future, but assure yourselves it will be disastrous, unless you attend to your duty, and are willing to act as becomes you.