He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command

— Niccolò Machiavelli

... I believe that he will prosper most whose mode of acting best adapts itself to the character of the times; and conversely that he will be prosperous, with whose mode of acting the times do not accord.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

I conclude therefore that, fortune being change and mankind steadfast in their ways, so long as the two are in agreement men are successful, but unsuccessful when they fall out. For my part I consider that it is better to be adventurous than cautious, because fortune is a woman, and if you wish to keep her under it is necessary to beat and ill-use her; and it is seen that she allows herself to be mastered by the adventurous rather than by those who go to work more coldly. She is, therefore, always, woman-like, a lover of young men, because they are less cautious, more violent, and with more audacity command her.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

... If instead of colonies you send troops, the cost is vastly greater, and the whole revenues of the country are spent in guarding it so that the gain becomes a loss, and much deeper offense is given since in shifting the quarters of your soldiers from place to place the whole country suffers hardship, which as all feel, all are made enemies and enemies who remaining, although vanquished, in their own homes, have power to hurt. In every way, therefore, this mode of defense is as disadvantageous as that by colonizing is useful.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

If they lacked the opportunity, the strength of their spirit would have been sapped; if they had lacked ability, the opportunity would have been wasted.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

Injuries, therefore, should be inflicted all at once, that their ill Seymour being less lasting may the less offend; whereas, benefits should be conferred little by little, that so they may be more fully relished.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

Is it better to be loved or feared?

— Niccolò Machiavelli

.it happens in all human affairs that we never seek to escape one mischief without falling into another. Prudence therefore consists in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage, and in accepting a less evil as a good.

— Niccolò Machiavelli

It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity.

— Niccolò Machiavelli