A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.

Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.

Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions.

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