Men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared because love is held together by a chain of obligation which, since men are wretched creatures, is broken on every occasion in which their own interests are concerned; but fear is sustained by dread of punishment which will never abandon you.

A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.

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

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

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

You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.

A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.