When you disarm your subjects, however, you offend them by showing that either from cowardliness or lack of faith, you distrust them; and either conclusion will induce them to hate you.

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

It is much better to tempt fortune where it can favor you than to see your certain ruin by not tempting it.

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

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

Men seldom rise from low condition to high rank without employing either force or fraud, unless that rank should be attained either by gift or inheritance.