The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.

It is a foolish prince who entrusts the safety of his lands to hired men.

All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.

The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.

It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.