Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes - Page 3

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Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge.

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

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

The world has always been the same; and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.

Laa shay'a waqi'un moutlaq bale kouloun moumkine...We work in the Dark, to serve the Light.

There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.

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

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

The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.

...it behooves us to adapt oneself to the times if one wants to enjoy continued good fortune.

The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.

Therefore, it is necessary to be a fox to discover the snares and a lion to terrify the wolves

To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

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

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.

Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain.

If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.

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

The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.

Among other causes of misfortune which your not being armed brings upon you, it makes you despised.

Half of these aren't even Machiavelli. Some are Plato, Thucydides etc....doesnt anyone check these?

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

Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.

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

The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.

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

The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.

Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.

A wise ruler should rely on what is under his own control, not on what is under the control of others.

So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.

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

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

The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.

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

No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

....nothing is so unhealthy or unstable as the reputation for power that is not based on one's own power.

Hence it comes that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

It is much better to tempt fortune where it can favor you than to see your certain ruin by not tempting it.

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.

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

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

Only those means of security are good, are certain, are lasting, that depend on yourself and your own vigor.

In our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.

They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.

Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods.

Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.

Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.

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