Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.

So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.

Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin than his preservation.

The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.

A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one's own ignorance.

In war, discipline can do more than fury.

Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.