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

Princes should delegate to others the enactment of unpopular measures and keep in their own hands the means of winning favours.

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

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.

One must consider the final result

Nevertheless, he must be cautious in believing and acting, and must not inspire fear of his own accord, and must proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence does not render him incautious, and too much diffidence does not render him intolerant. From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved.

Republics have a longer life and enjoy better fortune than principalities, because they can profit by their greater internal diversity. They are the better able to meet emergencies.