One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.

There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.

Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.

Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.

For this is the tragedy of man circumstances change, but he does not.

People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.