A son could bear with great complacency, the death of his father, while the loss of his inheritance might drive him to despair.

Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.

Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.

Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.

For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

For without invention, no one was ever a great man in his own trade.