Appear as you may wish to be

Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.

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.

Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.

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

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.

Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.