It is necessary that the prince should know how to color his nature well, and how to be a hypocrite and dissembler. For men are so simple, and yield so much to immediate necessity, that the deceiver will never lack dupes.

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

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

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.

Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless.

For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.