"Men are won over as much by the love they are given as by the fear they are inspired with."

"He who causes another to become powerful is ruined himself; because that power has been effected by him either by industry or by force, and both of these are suspicious to the one who has been raised …"

"The common people are always caught by appearances and by the outcome of a thing; and in the world there are only the common people."

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

"A prince, therefore, must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and loyal; for, with a very few examples, he will be more merciful than those who, fro…"