Men seldom rise from low condition to high rank without employing either force or fraud, unless that rank should be attained either by gift or inheritance.

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

....those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.

Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.

I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lacking.

All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation.