Power is the pivot on which everything hinges. He who has the power is always right; the weaker is always wrong.

So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.

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

Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.

There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.

He who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building.