In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.

...it behooves us to adapt oneself to the times if one wants to enjoy continued good fortune.

Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.

Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

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

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him, and must protect himself from those that will not lose it for him, if this is possible; but if he cannot, he need not concern himself unduly if he ignores these less serious vices.