A wise prince must never take things easy in times of peace.

It takes more to make one sage today than it did to make the seven of Greece. And you need more resources to deal with a single person these days than with an entire nation in times past.

Never participate in the secrets of those above you; you think you share the fruit, and you share the stones - the confidence of a prince is not a grant, but a tax

There are rules to luck, not everything is chance for the wise; luck can be helped by skill.

Nature scarcely ever gives us the very best; for that we must have recourse to art.

Self knowledge is the beginning of self improvement.

Cunning grows in deceit at seeing itself discovered, and tries to deceive with truth itselft.