Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.
And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.
A prince is also respected when he is a true friend and a true enemy; that is, when he declares himself on the side of one prince against another without any reservation.
In our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.
When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.
All the States and Governments by which men are or ever have been ruled, have been and are either Republics or Princedoms.
In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.
The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.
The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers; for gold alone will not procure good soldiers, but good soldiers will always procure gold.
So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.
Men walk almost always in the paths trodden by others, proceeding in their actions by imitation.
When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment; when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.
For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on the part of the people.
A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.
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.
A son could bear with great complacency, the death of his father, while the loss of his inheritance might drive him to despair.
They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.
A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.
One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.
...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.
Among other causes of misfortune which your not being armed brings upon you, it makes you despised.
Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.
The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.
Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed.
Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.
The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can.but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame.
For as laws are necessary that good manners be preserved, so there is need of good manners that law may be maintained.
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.
It is a common failing of man not to take account of tempests during fair weather.
He who makes war his profession cannot be otherwise than vicious. War makes thieves, and peace brings them to the gallows.
For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.
He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.
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.
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.
Only those means of security are good are certain are lasting that depend on yourself and your own vigor.