Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed.

To be feared is much safer then to be loved.

Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.

For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he can always defend himself by his good troops and friends; and he will always have good friends if he has good troops.

He who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building.

The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.

He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed