Machiavelli Quotes

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

My view is that it is desirable to be both loved and feared; but it is difficult to achieve both and, if one of them has to be lacking, it is much safer to be feared than loved.

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

Never do your enemy a minor injury.

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

There are three kinds of brains. The one understands things unassisted, the other understands things when shown by others, the third understands neither alone nor with the explanations of others.

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

For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.

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

Benefits should be granted little by little so that they may be better enjoyed.

Where the willingness is great the difficulties cannot be great.

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

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

There is no avoiding war it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.

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.

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

These opportunities, then, gave these men the chance they needed, and their great abilities made them recognize it.

Those who believe that where great personages are concerned new favors cause old injuries to be forgotten deceive themselves.

Without an opportunity, their abilities would have been wasted, and without their abilities, the opportunity would have arisen in vain.

It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity.

There are many who think a wise prince ought, when he has the chance, to foment astutely some enmity, so that by suppressing it he will augment his greatness.

Armour belonging to someone else either chops off you or weighs you down or is too tight

Women have always been spies.

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

There are two rules for success...1. Never reveal everything you know.

Men in general are as much affected by what a thing appears to be as by what it is, indeed they are frequently influenced more by appearances than by reality.

It is not titles that honour men, but men that honour titles.

For the most part people went about their business with an entirely irresponsible confidence in the stability of the universe.

An unavoidable war is called justice. When brutality is the only option left it is holy

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

... When Princes devote themselves rather to pleasure than to arms, they lose their dominions.

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

Never do an enemy a small injury.

Florence which included diplomatic missions to various European courts.

at Florence which included diplomatic missions to various European courts. Imprisoned

... one would like to be both [loved and feared], but as it is difficult to combine both love and fear, if one has to choose between them it is far safer to be feared than loved

... 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...

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes but few have the gift of penetration.

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