"He who desires to rule, must be prepared to use fraud and deceit."

"A prudent man should always follow in the path of great men and imitate those who have been most excellent, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savour of it."

"It is always necessary to take the lesser evil as good."

"If a prince wants to maintain his rule, he must learn how not to be virtuous, and to make use of this or not, according to need."

"It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved."