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

Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.

You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.

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

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours.