War should be the only study of a prince. — Nicolo Machiavelli. Florentine statesman, diplomat, and political theorist (1469–1527) War & Peace
Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But this must happen in such a way that no one becomes aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand, to be produced immediately.
Men rise from one ambition to another. First they seek to secure themselves from attack, and then they attack others.
Rome remained free for four hundred years and Sparta eight hundred, although their citizens were armed all that time; but many other states that have been disarmed have lost their liberties in less than forty years.
Government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do it harm.
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.
For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances as though they were realities. and are often more influenced by things that seem than by those that are.