If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains.

The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.

Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in antiquity.

The unarmed man is not just defenseless - he is also contemptible.

it is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.

He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.