God creates men, but they choose each other.

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

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

A wise prince then...should never be idle in times of peace but should industriously lay up stores of which to avail himself in times of adversity so that when fortune abandons him he may be prepared to resist her blows.

Nothing feeds upon itself as liberality does.

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

Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.