A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.
Niccolo MachiavelliSo 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.
Niccolo MachiavelliFor whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.
Niccolo MachiavelliIn our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.
Niccolo Machiavelli