The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold.

One must consider the final result

It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.

I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles

Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

Many have dreamed up republics and principalities that have never in truth been known to exist; the gulf between how one should live and how one does live is so wide that a man who neglects what is actually done for what should be done learns the way to self-destruction rather than self-preservation.