Christian and God

Christians are to be concerned both with God and one’s fellow man.   Those of the Renaissance, on the other hand, concentrated upon the human to the extent that God was secondary, only in the periphery of the picture.   Later in history people made the even greater error of excluding God completely, which is sometimes referred to as a secular humanism.
CONSTITUTION
Where in the same constitution there is a monarchy, an aristocracy, and a democracy, each serves as a check upon the others. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517.
In a well-ordered republic it should never be necessary to resort to extra-constitutional measures; for although they may for the time be beneficial, yet the precedent is pernicious, for if the practice is once established of disregarding the laws for good objects, they will in a little while be disregarded under that pretext for evil purposes. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517.
The majority of men never willingly adopt any new law tending to change the constitution of the state, unless the necessity of the change is clearly demonstrated; and as such a necessity cannot make itself felt without being accompanied with danger, the republic may easily be destroyed before having perfected its constitution. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517.
Although the laws may be changed according to circumstances and events, yet it is seldom or never that the constitution itself is changed; and for this reason the new laws do not suffice, for they are not in harmony with the constitution. - Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517.
[The] return of a republic to its original principles is either the result of extrinsic accident or of intrinsic prudence.... so that, being thus born again, she might take new life and vigor, and might resume the proper observance of justice.- Niccoló Machiavelli, The Discourses. 1517.
EDUCATION
As to exercise the mind, the prince ought to read history and study the actions of eminent men, see how...