Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli Quotes
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God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried.
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Change has no constituency.
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It makes him contemptible to be considered fickle, frivolous, effeminate, mean-spirited, irresolute, from all of which a prince should guard himself as from a rock; and he should endeavour to show in his actions greatness, courage, gravity, and fortitude; and in his private dealings with his subjects let him show that his judgments are irrevocable, and maintain himself in such reputation that no one can hope either to deceive him or to get round him.
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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.
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The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
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War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.
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The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
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You do not know the unfathomable cowardice of humanity...servile in the face of force, pitiless in the face of weakness, implacable before blunders, indulgent before crimes...and patient to the point of martyrdom before all the violences of bold despotism.
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The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.
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Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.
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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
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One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.
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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.
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He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.
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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge and not use it according to the necessity of the case.
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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.
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That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided it is well known that he is an excellent man and revered by his people, he can only be attacked with difficulty.
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Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.
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Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.
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Cruelties should be committed all at once.
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For as laws are necessary that good manners may be preserved, so there is need of good manner that laws may be maintained. [It., Perche, cosi come i buoni costumi, per mantenersi, hanno bisogno delli leggi; cosi le leggi per ossevarsi, hanno bisogno de' buoni costumi.]
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Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.