And I know that every one will confess that it would be most praiseworthy in a prince to exhibit all the above qualities that are considered good; but because they can neither be entirely possessed nor observed, for human conditions do not permit it, it is necessary for him to be sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which would lose him his state; and also to keep himself, if it be possible, from those which would not lose him it; but this not being possible, he may with less hesitation abandon himself to them.
Tudom, mindenki azt gondolja, hogy a fejedelmeknek valamennyi felsorolt tulajdonsággal rendelkezniük kellene, de minthogy az emberi feltételek miatt ez amúgy sem lehetséges, a fejedelem legyen óvatos, hogy kerülje azon rossz tulajdonságok hírét, amelyek országától megfoszthatnák, de ha módja van rá, még azokat is, melyek ezzel a veszéllyel nem fenyegetik.