A blast in the human breast is nothing to boast of.
God creates men, but they choose each other.
A prince who is not himself wise cannot be wisely advised. . . . Good advice depends on the shrewdness of the prince who seeks it, and not the shrewdness of the prince on good advice.
Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.
Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.
In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.
it is much safer to be feared than loved because ...love is preserved by the link of obligation which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment which never fails.
Thus it happens in matters of state; for knowing afar off (which it is only given a prudent man to do) the evils that are brewing, they are easily cured. But when, for want of such knowledge, they are allowed to grow so that everyone can recognize them, there is no longer any remedy to be found.
I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.
We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.
With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.
Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.
My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.
Although deceit is detestable in all other things, yet in the conduct of war it is laudable and honorable; and a commander who vanquishes an enemy by stratagem is equally praised with one who gains victory by force.
Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one become aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.
One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger.
Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.
Men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared because love is held together by a chain of obligation which, since men are wretched creatures, is broken on every occasion in which their own interests are concerned; but fear is sustained by dread of punishment which will never abandon you.
Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.
The world has always been the same; and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.
Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.
A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
....nothing is so unhealthy or unstable as the reputation for power that is not based on one's own power.
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