Behold the man who is free from haughtiness and anger and the vulgar passion:21 there is a dignity about him that adorneth his prosperity.

Parsimony, overconfidence, and excessive amour propre are faults in the prince.

Behold the men who are jealous of their reputation: though their fault be small even like a millet seed, they look upon it as of the measure of a palmyra tree.

Guard thyself jealously against weaknesses: for they are the foes that will lead thee to ruin.

Behold the man who provideth not beforehand against surprise: he will be destroyed even like a stack of straw before a spark of fire.

If the prince correcteth his own faults and then looketh into those of others, where is the ill that can approach him?

Behold the miser that spendeth not where he ought to spend: his wealth will come to an inglorious wreck.

Closefisted parsimony is not a vice to be classed with other vices: it formeth a class apart.

Exult not at anything at any time: embark not on enterprises that would bring thee no good.

If thou canst keep from the knowledge of others the things in which thy heart taketh delight, the machinations of thy foes will be in vain.