So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.

And if, to be sure, sometimes you need to conceal a fact with words, do it in such a way that it does not become known, or, if it does become known, that you have a ready and quick defense.

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.

Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.

One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.

The prince must consider, as has been in part said before, how to avoid those things which will make him hated or contemptible; and as often as he shall have succeeded he will have fulfilled his part, and he need not fear any danger in other reproaches.

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