And you have to understand this, that a prince, especially a new one, cannot observe all those things for which men are esteemed, being often forced,… - Niccolò Machiavelli

ما يمكن التنبؤ به يمكن علاجه بسهولة، أما إذا انتظرنا إلى أن تداهمنا المخاطر، فسيصبح العلاج متأخراً عن موعده وتستصعي العلة.

It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline. In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune.

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.