A prince must not have any other object nor any other thoughtโฆ but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.
Niccolo MachiavelliMen are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.
Niccolo MachiavelliA battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.
Niccolo Machiavelli