The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.
A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.
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.
The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.
Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.