The greatest remedy that is used against a plan of the enemy is to do voluntarily what he plans that you do by force.

Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious, a prince must consider it of little importance if he incurs the name of miser, for this is one of the vices that permits him to rule.

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.

Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.

It is much better to tempt fortune where it can favor you than to see your certain ruin by not tempting it.

A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savor of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.