One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

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

But in Republics there is a stronger vitality, a fiercer hatred, a keener thirst for revenge. The memory of their former freedom will not let them rest; so that the safest course is either to destroy them, or to go and live in them.

Never do an enemy a small injury.

Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.