Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.

Republics have a longer life and enjoy better fortune than principalities, because they can profit by their greater internal diversity. They are the better able to meet emergencies.

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.

Hence it comes that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.