Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves

Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

If the chief party, whether it be the people, or the army, or the nobility, which you think most useful and of most consequence to you for the conservation of your dignity, be corrupt, you must follow their humor and indulge them, and in that case honesty and virtue are pernicious.

It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.