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

He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.

Prudence therefore consists in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage.

One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.

A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and its ordering and discipline; because it is the only art that pertains to him who commands. And it is of such virtue that not only does it maintain those who were born princes, but many times makes men rise to that rank from private station.

A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him.