Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, when… - Niccolò Machiavelli

For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying

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.

For this can be said of men in general: that they are ungrateful, fickle, hypocrites and dissemblers, avoiders of dangers, greedy for gain; and while you benefit them, they are entirely yours, offering you their blood, their goods, their life, their children,...when need is far away, but when you actually become needy, they turn away. (translated by Wayne A. Rebhorn)