Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.

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.

It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.

The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.

A prince who is not himself wise cannot be wisely advised. . . . Good advice depends on the shrewdness of the prince who seeks it, and not the shrewdness of the prince on good advice.

I hold it to be a proof of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words toward anyone, for neither diminishes the strength of the enemy.

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.