“Society
cannot exist without inequality of fortunes and inequality of fortunes cannot
exist without religion. When a man is dying of hunger alongside another who
stuffs himself, it is impossible to make him accede to the difference unless
there is an authority which says to him God wished it thus; there must be some
poor and some rich in the world but hereafter and for all eternity the division
will be made differently.”
“A prince … must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and faithful; for, with a very few examples, he will be more merciful than those who, from excess of tenderness, allow disorders to arise, from whence spring bloodshed and rapine; for these as a rule injure the whole community, while the executions carried out by the prince injure only individuals.”
