A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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No circumstance is ever so desperate that one cannot nurture some spark of hope.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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Whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition; which is so powerful in human breasts, that it never leaves them no matter to what rank they rise.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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Because there is nothing proportionate between the armed and the unarmed; and it is not reasonable that he who is armed should yield obedience willingly to him who is unarmed, or that the unarmed man should be secure among armed servants. Because, there being in the one disdain and in the other suspicion, it is not possible for them to work well together.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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Against foreign powers, a prince can defend himself with good weapons and good friends; if he has good weapons, he will never lack for good friends.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to the opinion of the many, who have the majesty of the state to defend them.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli
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