"

These opportunities, then, gave these men the chance they needed, and their great abilities made them recognize it.

"

It must be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than a new system. For the ...more

"

Those who believe that where great personages are concerned new favors cause old injuries to be forgotten deceive themselves.

"

Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain.

"

Men in general are as much affected by what a thing appears to be as by what it is, indeed they are frequently influenced more by appearances than by ...more

"

...no one should marvel at the ease with which Alexander [the Great] kept possession of Asia, or at the difficulties which others, like Pyrrhus and ma...more

"

Considering thus how much honor is awarded to antiquity, and how many times—letting pass infinite other examples—a fragment of an ancient statue has b...more

"

Armour belonging to someone else either chops off you or weighs you down or is too tight

"

Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore th...more

"

In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.

"

Again, a Prince should show himself a patron of merit, and should honour those who excel in every art. He ought accordingly to encourage his subjects ...more

"

... On the whole, the best fortress you can have, is in not being hated by your subjects. If they hate you no fortress will save you...

"

Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is need...more

"

He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and both of these elements...more

"

A prince ought to have two fears one from within on account of his subjects the other from without on account of external powers. From the latter he i...more