It is not unlikely, too, that the rejection of God is a kind of punishment: we may well believe that those who knew the Gods and neglected them in one life may in another life be deprived of the knowledge of them altogether. Also those who have worshipped their own kings as gods have deserved as their punishment to lose all knowledge of God.

Neither soldiers nor money can defend a king but only friends won by good deeds, merit, and honesty.

In my opinion it is less shameful for a king to be overcome by force of arms than by bribery.

Kings are more prone to mistrust the good than the bad; and they are always afraid of the virtues of others.