The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.

Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.

Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony.

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity.

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him, and must protect himself from those that will not lose it for him, if this is possible; but if he cannot, he need not concern himself unduly if he ignores these less serious vices.

God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.