"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."

"Men are more apt to forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony."

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

"Men must either be caressed or annihilated; they will revenge themselves for slight wrongs, but not for great ones."

"And it is to be noted that in taking a state, the conqueror must arrange to commit all his cruelties at once, so as not to have to repeat them daily, but to be able, by not repeating them, to reassure…"