Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.

...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.

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

Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them.

For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.

In war, discipline can do more than fury.