Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer.
A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity.
It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because of the malignity of the times, that this good finally can be done by another more loved in heaven.
Whoever takes it upon himself to establish a commonwealth and prescribe laws must presuppose all men naturally bad, and that they will yield to their innate evil passions as often as they can do so with safety.
Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger.
Change has no constituency.
A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him.
I hold it to be a proof of great prudence for men to abstain from threats and insulting words toward anyone, for neither diminishes the strength of the enemy.
Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than in knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered.
Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties.
Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.
He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.
It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.
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.
One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.
Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.
I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.
Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed.
No one should therefore fear that he cannot accomplish what others have accomplished, for, men are born, live, and die in quite the same way they always have.
All the armed prophets conquered; all the unarmed ones perished.