Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.
To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.
Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
