All men have an equal disposition for understanding. - Claude Adrien Helvétius

Discipline is, in a manner, nothing else but the art of inspiring the soldiers with greater fear of their officers than of the enemy. This fear has often the effect of courage: but it cannot prevail against the fierce and obstinate valor of people animated by fanaticism, or warm love of their country.

…there are men whom a happy disposition, a strong desire of glory and esteem, inspire with the same love for justice and virtue, which men in general have for riches and honours.

By annihilating the desires, you annihilate the mind. Every man without passions has within him no principle of action, nor motive to act.