MACHIAVELLI

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
 * __Machiavelli__**

Ambition is so powerful a passion in the human breast, that however high we reach we are never satisfied.

And if, to be sure, sometimes you need to conceal a fact with words, do it in such a way that it does not become known, or, if it does become known, that you have a ready and quick defense.

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals.

Before all else, be armed.

Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.

For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.

For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.

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

Hence it comes about that all armed prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed prophets have been destroyed.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.

It is a true observation of ancient writers, that as men are apt to be cast down by adversity, so they, are easily satiated with prosperity, and that joy and grief produce the same effects. For whenever men are not obliged by necessity to fight they fight from ambition, which is so powerful a passion in the human breast that however high we reach we are never satisfied.

It is often found that modesty and humility not only do no good, but are positively hurtful, when they are shown to the arrogant who have taken up a prejudice against you, either from envy or from any other cause.

Men are so simple, and yield so much to necessity, that he who will deceive will always find him who will lend himself to be deceived.

Men as a whole judge more with their eyes than with their hands.

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes; but few have the gift of penetration.

Men may second fortune, but they cannot thwart her.

Politics have no relation to morals.

So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.

States that rise quickly, just as all the other things of nature that are born and grow rapidly, cannot have roots and ramifications; the first bad weather kills them.

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

This is most true, and all history bears testimony to it, that men may second fortune, but they cannot thwart her,--they may weave her web, but they cannot break it.

Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who over