Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

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

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

Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better

Niccolo Machiavelli

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great

Niccolo Machiavelli

A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair

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

A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise

Niccolo Machiavelli

Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil

Niccolo Machiavelli

Before all else, be armed

Niccolo Machiavelli

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

Niccolo Machiavelli

The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes

Niccolo Machiavelli

The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow

Niccolo Machiavelli

We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either

Niccolo Machiavelli

To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people

Niccolo Machiavelli

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love

Niccolo Machiavelli

Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear

Niccolo Machiavelli