Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.

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

It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.

Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge.

....it cannot be called ingenuity to kill one's fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; by these means one can aquire power but not glory.