Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose.

As the observance of divine institutions is the cause of the greatness of republics, so the disregard of them produces their ruin; for where the fear of God is wanting, there the country will come to ruin, unless it be sustained the fear of the prince, which temporarily supply the want of religion.

Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than in knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered.

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

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

The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt.

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