Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes: top 100 famous quotes about Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes & Sayings

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It is much safer for the prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone. — Niccolo Machiavelli

For whoever believes that great advancement and new benefits make men forget old injuries is mistaken. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Knowledge doth come of learning well retained, Unfruitful else, — Niccolo Machiavelli

For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Good individuals cannot exist without good education, and good education cannot exist without good laws, — Niccolo Machiavelli

Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. — Niccolo Machiavelli

A government which does not trust its citizens to be armed is not itself to be trusted. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Time sweeps everything along and can bring good as well as evil, evil as well as good. — Niccolo Machiavelli

One never finds anything perfectly pure and ... exempt from danger. — Niccolo Machiavelli

The peasant wants only to be left alone to prosper in peace. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Never do your enemy a minor injury. — Niccolo Machiavelli

For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times. — Niccolo Machiavelli

No principality is secure without having its own forces; — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared. — Niccolo Machiavelli

If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; — Niccolo Machiavelli

Wisdom consists in being able to distinguish among dangers and make a choice of the least harmful. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent. — Niccolo Machiavelli

One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Impetuosity and audacity often achieve what ordinary means fail to achieve. — Niccolo Machiavelli

How does one use power to do good, when wielding power requires one to do evil ? — Niccolo Machiavelli

Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are so simple, and governed so absolutely by their present needs, that he who wishes to deceive will never fail in finding willing dupes. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Those who become princes through their skill acquire the pricipality with difficulty, buy they hold onto it with ease. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Although crimes may win an empire, they do not win glory. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Appear as you may wish to be — Niccolo Machiavelli

Politics have no relation to morals. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed. — Niccolo Machiavelli

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation. — Niccolo Machiavelli

... to a Prince who wants to do great things, it is necessary to learn to deceive. — Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests. — Niccolo Machiavelli

The promise given was necessity of the past: the word borken is a necessity of the present -Niccolo Machiavelli — Michael Scott

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived. — Niccolo Machiavelli

People are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men for the most part follow in the footsteps and imitate the actions of others ... — Niccolo Machiavelli

A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Fear is as dangerous an enemy as resentment. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is a common fault of men not to reckon on storms in fair weather. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Never was anything great achieved without danger. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are. — Niccolo Machiavelli

There is nothing that Nature seems to have inclined us to as much as society. — Niccolo Machiavelli

One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces. — Niccolo Machiavelli

For without invention, no one was ever a great man in his own trade. — Niccolo Machiavelli

There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Moreover, no one feels grateful to anyone for those benefits of freedom that all share in common, at least so long as they enjoy them. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals. — Niccolo Machiavelli

comedic playwright. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret. — Niccolo Machiavelli

... War is the sole art looked for in one who rules... — Niccolo Machiavelli

He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command — Niccolo Machiavelli

For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Princes should devolve on others those matters that entail responsibility, and reserve to themselves those that relate to grace and favour. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Necessity is what impels men to take action, and once necessity is gone, only rot and decay are left — Niccolo Machiavelli

There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Master the rules of the game until you can play it better they can. — Michael Scott

Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct. — Niccolo Machiavelli

For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm. — Niccolo Machiavelli

That defense alone is effectual, sure and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valour. — Niccolo Machiavelli

On the whole, the best fortress you can have, is in not being hated by your subjects. If they hate you no fortress will save you ... — Niccolo Machiavelli

Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men. — Niccolo Machiavelli

For titles do not reflect honor on men, but rather men on their titles.
[It., Perche non i titoli illustrano gli uomini, ma gli uomini i titoli.] — Niccolo Machiavelli

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Cruelties should be committed all at once. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He was not a scholar, and he did not have the temperament of one who finds knowledge an end in itself. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He who has once begun to live by robbery will always find pretexts for seizing what belongs to others; — Niccolo Machiavelli

Men may second fortune, but they cannot thwart her. — Niccolo Machiavelli

If in other respects the old condition of things be continued, and there be no discordance in their customs, men live peaceably with one another ... — Niccolo Machiavelli

War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Wise men say, and not without reason, that whosoever wished to foresee the future might consult the past. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He [the prince] holds to what is right when he can but knows how to do wrong when he must. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both. — Niccolo Machiavelli

The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not. — Niccolo Machiavelli

He who thinks new favours will cause great personages to forget old injuries deceives himself. — Niccolo Machiavelli

At Florence which included diplomatic missions to various European courts. Imprisoned — Niccolo Machiavelli

Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain. — Niccolo Machiavelli

In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast. — Niccolo Machiavelli

A prince need take little account of conspiracies if the people are disposed in his favor. — Niccolo Machiavelli

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him. — Niccolo Machiavelli

A wise man will see to it that his acts always seem voluntary and not done by compulsion, however much he may be compelled by necessity. — Niccolo Machiavelli

If you wish to please me, and to bring success and honour to yourself, do right and study, because others will help you if you help yourself. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather. — Niccolo Machiavelli

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great. — Niccolo Machiavelli

It is better to be feared than to be loved, if you can not be both — Niccolo Machiavelli

The incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Nothing is so unhealthy or unstable as the reputation for power that is not based on one's own power. — Niccolo Machiavelli

Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not to suffer. — Niccolo Machiavelli

You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes ... — Niccolo Machiavelli

Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy. — Niccolo Machiavelli