A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.
For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying
For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.
Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.
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.