The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.

When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.

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.

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.

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods.