Niccolo Machiavelli

Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.

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

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.

A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.

There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others. This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.

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

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.

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

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.