Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what … - Niccolò Machiavelli

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.

Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.

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.

Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.

Men in general judge more with the eye than with the hand, because everyone can see, but few can feel. Everyone sees what you seem to be, but few feel what you are.

– Constantine translation

Comincionsi le guerre quando altri vuole, ma non quando altri vuole si finiscono.

People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.

No circumstance is ever so desperate that one cannot nurture some spark of hope.