Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine...We work in the Dark, to serve the Light.

Never do an enemy a small injury.

Nevertheless, he must be cautious in believing and acting, and must not inspire fear of his own accord, and must proceed in a temperate manner with prudence and humanity, so that too much confidence does not render him incautious, and too much diffidence does not render him intolerant. From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved.

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.

Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.

For without invention, no one was ever a great man in his own trade.

Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.