Hugo Grotius Quotes & Sayings

Ignorance of certain subjects is a great part of wisdom. — Hugo Grotius

A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city; he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family; he cannot govern a family unless he can govern himself; and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason — Hugo Grotius

Liberty is the power that we have over ourselves. — Hugo Grotius

There is none of you who would not publicly exclaim that everyone should be moderator and arbitrator in his own matter, who would not command all citizens to use rivers and public places equally and indifferently, who would not with all his power defend the liberty of going hither and thither and trading. — Hugo Grotius

Even God cannot make two times two not make four. — Hugo Grotius

Tis long ere time can mitigate your grief;
To wisdom fly, she quickly brings relief. — Hugo Grotius

By understanding many things, I have accomplished nothing. — Hugo Grotius

A state is a perfect body of free men, united together to enjoy common rights and advantages. — Hugo Grotius

Men rush to arms for slight causes, or no cause at all, and once taken up there is no longer any respect for law, divine or human. — Hugo Grotius

I have spent my life laboriously doing nothing. — Hugo Grotius

I saw in the whole Christian world a license of fighting at which even barbarous nations might blush. Wars were begun on trifling pretexts or none at all, and carried on without any reference of law, Divine or human. — Hugo Grotius