Still, a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate avoids hatred; for fear and the absence of hatred may well go together, and will be always attained by one who abstains from interfering with the property of his citizens and subjects or with their women.

Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge.

They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.

One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.

I hold it to be of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words towards any one, for neither the one nor the other in any way diminishes the strength of the enemy; but the one makes him more cautious, and the other increases his hatred of you, and makes him more persevering in his efforts to injure you

Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.