It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. Read Summary
Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot. Read Summary
The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present. Read Summary
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. Read Summary
Never was anything great achieved without danger. Read Summary
Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate, so that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared. Read Summary
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Read Summary
Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more. Read Summary
When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred. Read Summary
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. Read Summary
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. Read Summary
It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope. Read Summary
Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed. Read Summary
Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear. Read Summary
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt. Read Summary
One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others. Read Summary
Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself. Read Summary
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. Read Summary
Politics have no relation to morals. Read Summary
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles. Read Summary