Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past.

For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.

God creates men, but they choose each other.

A prince need trouble little about conspiracies when the people are well disposed, but when they are hostile and hold him in hatred, then he must fear everything and everybody.

Besides what has been said, people are fickle by nature; and it is a simple to convince them of something but difficult to hold them in that conviction; and, therefore, affairs should be managed in such a way that when they no longer believe, they can be made to believe by force.

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

So 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.