Sublime

Machiavelli noted, “Men desire novelty to such an extent that those who are doing well wish for a change as much as those who are doing badly.”

Cruelties, however, should be swiftly administered—hence the logic of shock and awe—while benefits should be distributed slowly “so that they may be tasted better.” That’s why a prince must learn when not to be good: timing is everything.

Outwardly, you must seem to respect the niceties, but inwardly, unless you are a fool, you learn quickly to be prudent, and to do as Napoleon advised: Place your iron hand inside a velvet glove.

blunder ought never be perpetrated to avoid war, because it is not to be avoided, but is only deferred to your disadvantage.

When a State is threatened by serious dangers, the people frequently succeeds in selecting the citizens who are the most able to save

he is one of the most important political thinkers on earth today.

men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.

in the second place, to stimulate competition, and to discover those arguments which are most fitted to act upon the majority; for they always entertain hopes of drawing over their opponents to their own side, and of afterwards disposing of the supreme power in their name.