The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.
There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
The nature of man is such that people consider themselves put under an obligation as much by the benefits they confer as by those they receive.
There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.
Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.