Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.

The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.

Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.

Politics have no relation to morals.

You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.

A blast in the human breast is nothing to boast of.

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