Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. If an injury has to be done to a man, it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared. The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that telling you the truth will not offend you. Never was anything great achieved without danger. ("Risk" in Modern Terms) Never attempt to win by force what can be won by deception. Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear. It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles. Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved. Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy for gain. Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves. There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy. In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast. It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret. He who builds on the people, builds on the mud. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up. He who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against. Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony. The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people. Men intrinsically do not trust new things that they have not experienced themselves. It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries, for heavy ones they cannot. Any injury we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance. It is a common fault of men not to reckon on storms in fair weather. It is far better to earn the confidence of the people than to rely on fortresses. Everyone around will envy you if you tell the truth. He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command. A man cannot survive without cheating, because it is his nature. Men will not look at things as they really are, but as they wish them to be, and are ruined.