For, besides what has been said, it should be borne in mind that the temper of the multitude is fickle, and that while it is easy to persuade them of a thing, it is hard to fix them in that persuasion

War brings out thieves and peace hangs them.

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.

One arises from a low to a high station more often by using fraud instead of force.

That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his people, he can only be attacked with difficulty.

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.