A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

It is a foolish prince who entrusts the safety of his lands to hired men.

For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he can always defend himself by his good troops and friends; and he will always have good friends if he has good troops.

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.

Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.

One must be a fox to recognize traps and a lion to frighten wolves