"He who desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with the assumption that all men are bad, and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it."

"Injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavor of them may last longer."

"A prince must be a fox, to know how to avoid snares; and a lion, to terrify wolves."

"He who builds on the people, builds on mud."

"Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling."