The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

We must distinguish between those who depend on others, that is between those who to achieve their purposes can force the issue and those who must use persuasion. In the second case, they always come to grief, having achieved nothing; when, however, they depend on their own resources and can force the issue, then they are seldom endangered.

And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.

The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.

....those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.

Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.