"A prince who is not himself wise cannot be well advised."

"Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others."

"No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution."

"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."

"And it ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order…"