He who is the cause of another's advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.

The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can.but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame.

Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.

A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.

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