....those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease.

And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.

Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself; for that power is produced by him either through craft or force; and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.

For titles do not reflect honor on men, but rather men on their titles.

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.

There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.