"The promises of men are not to be relied on, unless they are made under such circumstances that the promiser cannot break them without ruin."

"It is much more difficult to injure one who is loved than one who is hated."

"Because there are three ways of holding conquered states that are accustomed to living under their own laws and in freedom: the first is to ruin them, the next is to reside there in person, the third …"

"A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves."

"He who builds on the people, builds on mud."