It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.

Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.

The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved.

For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he can always defend himself by his good troops and friends; and he will always have good friends if he has good troops.

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.

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

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