...it behooves us to adapt oneself to the times if one wants to enjoy continued good fortune.

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.

For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.

Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.

To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one must be of the people.

In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune.