...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.

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

Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.

It ought to be remembered that 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. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.

When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.