Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

...it is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valor.

...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

A prince should therefore have no other aim or thought, nor take up any other thing for his study but war and it organization and discipline, for that is the only art that is necessary to one who commands.

He who has not first laid his foundations may be able with great ability to lay them afterwards, but they will be laid with trouble to the architect and danger to the building.

Is necessary to take such measures that, when they believe no longer, it may be possible to make them believe by force.

Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.

One must be a fox in order to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves.

Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, and the third is useless.

There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth; but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.

To be feared is much safer then to be loved.

We have not seen great things done in our time except by those who have been considered mean; the rest have failed.

When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the marjority of men live content.