I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lackin… - Niccolò Machiavelli

Quello che giova al nimico nuoce a te, e quel che giova a te nuoce al nimico.

An unavoidable war is called justice. When brutality is the only option left it is holy

For since men for the most part follow in the footsteps and imitate the actions of others, and yet are unable to adhere exactly to those paths which others have taken, or attain to the virtues of those whom they would resemble, the wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour. Acting in this like the skilful archer, who seeing that the object he would hit is distant, and knowing the range of his bow, takes aim much above the destined mark; not designing that his arrow should strike so high, but that flying high it may alight at the point intended.