A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.

Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.

He who is the cause of another's advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.

Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.

Appear as you may wish to be

For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.

Men are of three different capacities: one understands intuitively; another understands so far as it is explained; and a third understands neither of himself nor by explanation. The first is excellent, the second, commendable, and the third, altogether useless.