Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one become aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.

More from Niccolò Machiavelli

• A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent.
• In judging policies we should consider the results that have been achieved through them rather than the means by which they have been executed.
• The Romans never allowed a trouble spot to remain simply to avoid going to war over it, because they knew that wars don’t just go away, they are only postponed to someone else’s advantage.