It is only natural, of course, that each man should think his own opinions best: the crow loves his fledgling, and the ape his cub.

The most part of all princes have more delight in warlike manners and feats of chivalry than in the good feats of peace.

A good tale evil told were better untold, and an evil take well told need none other solicitor.

. . . the state of things and the dispositions of men were then such, that a man could not well tell whom he might trust or whom he might fear.

In the first place, most princes apply themselves to the arts of war, in which I have neither ability nor interest, instead of to the good arts of peace. They are generally more set on acquiring new kingdoms by hook or by crook than on governing well those that they already have.

The education of youth belongs to the priests, yet they do not take so much care of instructing them in letters, as in forming their minds and manners aright; they use all possible methods to infuse, very early, into the tender and flexible minds of children, such opinions as are both good in themselves and will be useful to their country, for when deep impressions of these things are made at that age, they follow men through the whole course of their lives, and conduce much to preserve the peace of the government, which suffers by nothing more than by vices that rise out of ill opinions.

Getting married is like putting one's hand in a bag containing 99 serpents and one eel.