"A prince must have no other object, no other thought, nor take anything else for his art, but war and its orders and discipline; for this is the only art that belongs to him who rules."

"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."

"Thus it happens in affairs of state, that to try to avoid one trouble often leads to another."

"Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries—for heavy ones they cannot."

"It is much safer to be feared than loved because love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves…"