"For of men it may generally be affirmed, that they are ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous."

"War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms."

"Wise men say, and not without reason, that whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times."

"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 …"

"He who is not strong enough to be a fox and a lion at the same time, will be ruined by either."