He who is the cause of another’s greatness is himself undone, since he must work either by address or force, each of which excites distrust in the pe… - Niccolò Machiavelli

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuous in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.

men have less scruple in offending one who is beloved than one who is feared, for love is preserved by the link of obligation, which, owing to the baseness of men, is broken at every opportunity for their advantage; but fear preserves you by a dread of punishment, which never fails.

he who is the cause of another becoming powerful is ruined; because that predominancy has been brought about either by astuteness or else by force, and both are distrusted by him who has been raised to power.