I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lacking.

Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself; for that power is produced by him either through craft or force; and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.

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

Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.

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

A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted.

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.