A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state for him, and must protect himself from those that will not lose it for him, if this is possible; but if he cannot, he need not concern himself unduly if he ignores these less serious vices.

Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli

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

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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

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

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Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.

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