All the States and Governments by which men are or ever have been ruled, have been and are either Republics or Princedoms.

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.

Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.

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

Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.

All the armed prophets conquered; all the unarmed ones perished.

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.