(A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.
Niccolo MachiavelliAnd above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.
Niccolo MachiavelliMen are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.
Niccolo Machiavelli