"A wise prince, therefore, ought to find a means by which his subjects will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and of him, and then they will always be faithful to him…"

"Men are by nature much more inclined to evil than to good; and therefore, if you would have the good, you must put them under the necessity of being so."

"The wise man does at once what the fool does finally."

"Nature creates few men brave, industry makes many."

"The nature of men is such that they are much beholden to those who do them good, and they are much offended by those who do them evil."