So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.

I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but cannot oppose it; that they may weave its warp, but cannot break it. Yet they should never give up, because there is always hope, though they know not the end and more towards it along roads which cross one another and as yet are unexplored; and since there is hope, they should not despair, no matter what fortune brings or in what travail they find themselves.

Still, a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate avoids hatred; for fear and the absence of hatred may well go together, and will be always attained by one who abstains from interfering with the property of his citizens and subjects or with their women.

The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.

When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment; when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.

The world has always been the same; and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.

Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.