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

No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.

One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.

The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.

For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying

The greatest remedy that is used against a plan of the enemy is to do voluntarily what he plans that you do by force.