"I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness."

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God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried.

— Niccolo Machiavelli