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

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.

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

Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.

I am firmly convinced, therefore, that to set up a republic which is to last a long time, the way to set about it is to constitute it as Sparta and Venice were constituted; to place it in a strong position, and so to fortify it that no one will dream of taking it by a sudden assault; and, on the other hand, not to make it so large as to appear formidable to its neighbors. It should in this way be able to enjoy its form of government for a long time. For war is made on a commonwealth for two reasons: to subjugate it, and for fear of being subjugated by it.

The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.