Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.

The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.

Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.

Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin than his preservation.

The prince must consider, as has been in part said before, how to avoid those things which will make him hated or contemptible; and as often as he shall have succeeded he will have fulfilled his part, and he need not fear any danger in other reproaches.

For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob.