Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.

God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.

There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things.

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.

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