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

"If a prince wants to maintain his rule, he must learn how not to be virtuous, and to make use of this or not, according to need."

"Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions."

"He who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that power has been effected either by industry or by force, and both of these are suspicious to the one who has been raised to powe…"

"Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them."

"A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise."