Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.

Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.

....for friendships that are acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of character are purchased but are not owned, and at the proper moment they cannot be spent.

Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.