Talk to people in their own language. If you do it well, they'll say, 'God, he said exactly what I was thinking.' And when they begin to respect you, they'll follow you to the death.

I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, so I ask you to confirm me with your prayers.

Intelligence is not all that important in the exercise of power, and is often, in point of fact, useless.

Great ambition, the desire of real superiority, of leading and directing, seems to be altogether peculiar to man, and speech is the great instrument of ambition.

It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle, frivolous, effeminate, mean-spirited, irresolute, from all of which a prince should guard himself as from a rock; and he should endeavour to show in his actions greatness, courage, gravity, and fortitude; and in his private dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are irrevocable, and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can hope either to deceive him or to get round him.

In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate-look to his character.