A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.

Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.

To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one must be of the people.

...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.