The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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Discipline in war counts more than fury.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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It should be noted that hatred is acquired as much by good works as by bad ones, therefore, as I said before, a prince wishing to keep his state is very often forced to do evil.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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It is necessary to whoever arranges to found a Republic and establish laws in it, to presuppose that all men are bad and that they will use their malignity of mind every time they have the opportunity.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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Every one admits how praiseworthy it is in a prince to keep faith, and to live with integrity and not with craft. Nevertheless our experience has been that those princes who have done great things have held good faith of little account, and have known how to circumvent the intellect of men by craft, and in the end have overcome those who have relied on their word.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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The Romans, foreseeing troubles, dealt with them at once, and, even to avoid a war, would not let them come to a head, for they knew that war is not to be avoided, but is only put off to the advantage of others.
~ Niccolò Machiavelli

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