*Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such as those of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte Corday—further than this the maxim is satire.
*Some crimes may be excused by their brilliancy, such as those of Jael, of Deborah, of Brutus, and of Charlotte Corday—further than this the maxim is satire.
[XXXVI].—One never finds in man good or evil in excess. (1665, No. 201.)
[XXXVII].—Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not easily suspect others. (1665, No. {2}08.)
{The text incorrectly numbers this maxim as 508. It is 208.}
[XXXVIII].—The pomp of funerals concerns rather the vanity of the living, than the honour of the dead. (1665, No. 213.)
[XXXIX].—Whatever variety and change appears in the world, we may remark a secret chain, and a regulated order of all time by Providence, which makes everything follow in due rank and fall into its destined course. (1665, No. 225.)
[XL].—Intrepidity should sustain the heart in conspiracies in place of valour which alone furnishes all the firmness which is necessary for the perils of war. (1665, No. 231.)
[XLI].—Those who wish to define victory by her birth will be tempted to imitate the poets, and to call her the Daughter of Heaven, since they cannot find her origin on earth. Truly she is produced from an infinity of actions, which instead of wishing to beget her, only look to the particular interests of their masters, since all those who compose an army, in aiming at their own rise and glory, produce a good so great and general. (1665, No. 232.)
[XLII].—That man who has never been in danger cannot answer for his courage. (1665, No. 236.)