Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him, and must protect himself from those that will not lose it for him, if this is possible; but if he cannot, he need not concern himself unduly if he ignores these less serious vices.

Prudence therefore consists in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage.

There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society.

A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him.

Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.

The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.