I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage.

as the physicians say it happens in hectic fever, that in the beginning of the malady it is easy to cure but difficult to detect, but in the course of time, not having been either detected or treated in the beginning, it becomes easy to detect but difficult to cure

Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.

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