Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. – Niccolo Machiavelli
One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others. – Niccolo Machiavelli
Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear. – Niccolo Machiavelli
There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt. – Niccolo Machiavelli
The beginning of a friendship, the fact that two people out of the thousands around them can meet and connect and become friends, seems like a kind of magic to me. But maintaining a friendship requires work. I dont mean that as a bad thing. Good art requires work as well. – Charles de Lint