The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and its ordering and discipline; because it is the only art that pertains to him who commands. And it is of such virtue that not only does it maintain those who were born princes, but many times makes men rise to that rank from private station.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.

....those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.

A wise prince then...should never be idle in times of peace but should industriously lay up stores of which to avail himself in times of adversity so that when fortune abandons him he may be prepared to resist her blows.