The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.

Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities.

Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.

There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.

It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.

War brings out thieves and peace hangs them.

In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune.