One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.

The world has always been the same; and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.

Women are the most charitable creatures, and the most troublesome. He who shuns women passes up the trouble, but also the benefits. He who puts up with them gains the benefits, but also the trouble. As the saying goes, there's no honey without bees.

Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.

Men may second fortune, but they cannot thwart her.

When every province of the world so teems with inhabitants that they can neither subsist where they are nor remove themselves elsewhere.