For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob.

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.

My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.

Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.

Hence it comes that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.