Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.

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

It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.

Appear as you may wish to be

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.

...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.