"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 …"

"Men are always more easily deceived when they are trying to deceive others."

"It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both."

"For it can be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, fickle, feigners and dissemblers, shirkers of dangers, eager for gain."

"It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity."