And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined.

Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than in knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered.

...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

As all those have shown who have discussed civil institutions, and as every history is full of examples, it is necessary to whoever arranges to found a Republic and establish laws in it, to presuppose that all men are bad and that they will use their malignity of mind every time they have the opportunity.

All the armed prophets conquered; all the unarmed ones perished.

They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.

Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.