The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious, a prince must consider it of little importance if he incurs the name of miser, for this is one of the vices that permits him to rule.

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.

I hold it to be of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words towards any one, for neither the one nor the other in any way diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious, and the other increases his hatred of you, and makes him more persevering in his efforts to injure you

When every province of the world so teems with inhabitants that they can neither subsist where they are nor remove themselves elsewhere.

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.