....for friendships that are acquired by a price and not by greatness and nobility of character are purchased but are not owned, and at the proper moment they cannot be spent.

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.

For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.

Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains.

Men are always wicked at bottom unless they are made good by some compulsion.