The chief foundations of all states, whether new, old, or mixed, are good laws and good arms. And as there cannot be good laws where there are not good arms, and where there are good arms there should be good laws.
So it is necessary to be a prince to be able to know thoroughly the nature of a people, and to know the nature of princes one must be one of the populace.
Prudence consists in being able to know the nature of the difficulties, and taking the least harmful as good.
One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
One change always leaves the way prepared for the introduction of another.
Men have less scruple in offending one who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared.
Like all other things which are horn and grow rapidly, cannot have deep roots, so that the first storm destroys them.
It is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting.
He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.
He who does not lay his foundations beforehand may by great abilities do so afterwards, although with great trouble to the architect and danger to the building.
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
God will not do everything, in order not to deprive us of freewill and the portion of the glory that falls to our lot.
