Quotations

«Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.»

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

«A prince 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. Those that wish to be only lions do not understand this. Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.»

«Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.»

«It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.»

«The question is, then, do we try to make things easy on ourselves or do we try to make things easy on our customers, whoever they may be?»

«Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.»

«And if, to be sure, sometimes you need to conceal a fact with words, do it in such a way that it does not become known, or, if it does become known, that you have a ready and quick defense»

«Where the willingness is great the difficulties cannot be great»

«The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.»