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... 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...

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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

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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

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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

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And what physicians say about consumptive illnesses is applicable here: that at the beginning, such an illness is easy to cure but difficult to diagno...more

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Injuries, therefore, should be inflicted all at once, that their ill savour being less lasting may the less offend; whereas, benefits should be confer...more

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Therefore a wise prince ought to adopt such a course that his citizens will always in every sort and kind of circumstance have need of the state and o...more

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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

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There are many who think a wise prince ought, when he has the chance, to foment astutely some enmity, so that by suppressing it he will augment his gr...more

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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command

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It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity.

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

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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

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When evening comes, I return home and go into my study. On the threshold I strip off my muddy, sweaty, workday clothes, and put on the robes of court ...more

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