Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.

Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.

For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.