I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself |
I shall always esteem it not much to live in a city where the laws do less than men, because that fatherland is desirable where possessions and friends can be securely enjoyed, not where they can be easily taken from you, and friends for few of thems |
I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. |
If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared |
If One Wishes That a Sect of a Republic Live a Long Time, It Is Necessary to Draw It Back Often toward Its Principle |
In truth, there never was any remarkable lawgiver amongst any people who did not resort to divine authority, as otherwise his laws would not have been accepted by the people; for there are many good laws, the importance of which is known to be the sa |
It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent |
It is better to be careful a hundred times than to be killed once |
It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. |
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. |
It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved. |
It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope |
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles. |
It should be noted that when he seizes a state the new ruler ought to determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He should inflict them once and for all, and not have to renew them every day. |
Let no one oppose this belief of mine with that well-worn proverb: 'He who builds on the people builds on mud |