Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.

Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself; for that power is produced by him either through craft or force; and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.

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.

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.

He who makes war his profession cannot be otherwise than vicious. War makes thieves, and peace brings them to the gallows.

God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried.