Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.

Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

From the latter he is defended by being well armed and having good allies, and if he is well armed he will have good friends, and affairs will always remain quiet within when they are quiet without, unless they should have been already disturbed by conspiracy; and even should affairs outside be disturbed, if he has carried out his preparations and has lived as I have said, as long as he does not despair, he will resist every attack.

One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.