Niccolo Machiavelli, (1469-1527), Italian Author, Statesman Quotes

Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent.

One never finds anything perfectly pure and... Exempt from danger.

The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.

Men love according to their own will, and fear according to the will of the prince. A wise prince should establish himself on that which is in his own control, and not in that of others.

It is the nature of men to be as much bound by the benefits that they confer as by those they receive.

Here arises the question: whether it is better to be loved than feared, or feared than loved. Obviously, it can be answered that one should choose to be both, but since the two rarely come together for one person will find it safer to be feared than to be loved.

There is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order. This lukewarmness arises partly from fear of their adversaries who have the law in their favor; and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.

There is as much difference between us and ourselves as there is between us and others.

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful.