Amer Ahmed

C1
Main Idea: All of the governments of the world follow a consistent pattern of being either
a princely state
Favorite quote: “They may be acquired either by force of other people’s arms or with
one’s own, either by fortune or strength.
C2
Main Idea: If a prince makes one mistake, the problem that arises can be solved by a
slight mistake on the other end.
Favorite Quote: “Hence, if a prince is just ordinarily industrious, he can always keep his
position, unless some unusual or excessive act of force deprives him of it.
C3
Main Idea: One must know and understand the people in which he would govern.
Favorite Quote: “To keep a secure hold, it suffices to have extinguished the line of the
previous prince, because in other matters, as long as you keep their old way of life and do
not change their customs, men will live quietly enough.
C4
Main Idea: To attack a princely state, you need to hit it at either the heart or the head: the
army or the royal family. Depending on where depends on what to strike down first.
Favorite quote: “States governed by a prince and his servants the prince more authority
because in the whole district there is nobody that can claim real power except the prince.
C5
Main Idea: You need to either understand cities laws or destroy them, but don’t stand in
the middle and wait.
Favorite Quote: “But in republics, you will find greater life, greater hate, and more desire
for revenge.
C6
Main Idea: A leader needs to look above and beyond his target because he will ultimately
fall short if he does not.
Favorite Quote: Men almost always prefer to walk in paths marked out by others and
pattern their actions through imitation.
C7
Main Idea: There are two ways that one may come to power, and it depends on what your
situation is. You may have to use luck or force to gain it, but once you have built a
foundation you can expect to have great things.
Favorite Quote: A man who does not lay out his foundations in advance may with great
effort build them later—but he will always do so with inconvenience to the architect and
danger to the structure.
C8
Main Idea: There is that who may claim princely power may never claim glory.
Favorite Quotes: “Yet it certainly cannot be called virtue to murder his fellow citizens,
betray his friends, to be devoid of truth, pity, or religion, a man may get power by means
like these, but not glory.
C9
Main Idea: The other way a prince can gain power is through respect through fellow
citizens.
Favorite Quote: “These principalities are generally in most danger when they are just
passing from a civil to absolute form of government.
C10
Main Idea: It is important to maintain an army of size and power but also maintain
defenses and fortify the ranks you control.
Favorite Quote: “Men are always of tasks that seem hard.
C11
Main Idea: Taking over governments ruled by religion is harder and require even more
fortune or good luck than a normal princely state. There is sarcasm when the chapter
talks about “delving into higher powers”
Favorite Quote: “Instituted as they are by God, and sustained by him, it would be rash
and imprudent man who ventured to discuss them.
C12
Main idea: Strong armies and unbroken laws are two of the most important foundations
to rely on. You must always make these some of your highest priorities.
Favorite Quote: “The result of their prowess has been that Italy has been overrun by
Charles, sacked by Louis, raped by Ferdinand, and disgraced by the Swiss.