You do not know the unfathomable cowardice of humanity...servile in the face of force, pitiless in the face of weakness, implacable before blunders, indulgent before crimes...and patient to the point of martyrdom before all the violences of bold despotism.

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 ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.

A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.

Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years.

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

Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself.