A prince need trouble little about conspiracies when the people are well disposed, but when they are hostile and hold him in hatred, then he must fear everything and everybody.
Niccolo MachiavelliIf you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains.
Niccolo MachiavelliNo enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
Niccolo Machiavelli