Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

Niccolo Machiavelli

A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.

A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.

There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.

There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

The unarmed man is not just defenseless - he is also contemptible.

The unarmed man is not just defenseless - he is also contemptible.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.

Ability and perseverance are the weapons of weakness.

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.

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

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

Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.

Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.

Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

Never was anything great achieved without danger.

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

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

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

Never do an enemy a small injury.

Never do an enemy a small injury.

Politics have no relation to morals.

Politics have no relation to morals.

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.