The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.

Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.

Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.

The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.

He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed

Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.

The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold.