DIA II.3.22, 620

DIA 1.2.5, 215

DIA 1.2.5, 190

It has been remarked that when a danger presses, man rarely remains at his habitual level; he elevates himself well above or falls below. So does it happen to peoples themselves. Instead of elevating a nation, extreme perils sometimes succeed in pulling it down; they stir up its passions without guiding them, and far from enlightening its intelligence, cloud it. But it is more common to see, among nations as among men, extraordinary virtue born of the very imminence of danger.

Inf. XXIII.46-51

My leader in a moment snatched me up,
Like a mother who, awakened by the hubbub
Before she sees the flames that burn right near her,

Snatches up her child and flees,
And, more concerned for him than for herself,
Does not delay to put a shift on.

Letter to Vettori, 3 Aug 1514

I have abandoned, then, the thoughts of affairs great and serious; I do not any more take delight in reading ancient things or in discussing modern ones; they are all turned to soft conversations, for which I thank Venus and all Cyprus.

Emile IV, 222

DIA 1.1.8, 153

DIA 1.1.8, 106

Separated by 1,300 leagues of sea from their enemies, aided by a powerful ally, the United States owed victory much more to its position than to the valor of its armies or to the patriotism of its citizens.

DIA 1.1.1, 27

The Indians occupied it, but they did not possess it.

De Cive I.2

I hope no body will doubt, but that men would much more greedily be carried by nature, if all fear were removed, to obtain dominion, than to gain society.

Disc., II.20

Nor... do ancient examples move him.

Emile II, 132

Emile IV, 218

You see that the truth has not been adulterated and there was no need to take advantage of one's pupil instead of instructing him. (Courtesy of MS.)

Vita Nuova 26:7

Inf. II.127-30

SOL 26.7

SOL 6.13, 87

SOL 19.20

Necessity and perhaps the nature of the climate have given the Chinese an unthinkable avidity for gain, and the laws have not dreamed of checking it. Everything has been prohibited if it is a question of acquisition by violence; everything has been permitted if it is a matter of obtaining by artifice or industry. Therefore, let us not compare the morality of China with that of Europe.

SOL 21.7

Disc., Ep. Ded.