Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli Quotes
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It makes him hated above all things, as I have said, to be rapacious, and to be a violator of the property and women of his subjects, from both of which he must abstain.
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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
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The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
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And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined, for the friendship which is gained by purchase and not through grandeur and nobility of spirit is merited but is not secured, and at times is not to be had.
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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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The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.
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Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.
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...the wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour.
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Men in general judge more by the sense of sight than by the sense of touch, because everyone can see but few can test by feeling. Everyone sees what you seem to be, few know what you really are; and those few do not dare take a stand against the general opinion.
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Men are able to assist fortune but not to thwart her. They can weave her designs, but they cannot destroy them.
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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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...it behooves us to adapt oneself to the times if one wants to enjoy continued good fortune.
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Men are driven by two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.
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It is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved? It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both: but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.
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Cruelties should be committed all at once.
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Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.
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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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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.
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The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it were, in a prison and in servitude, and having by accident got its liberty, not being accustomed to search for its food, and not knowing where to conceal itself, easily becomes the prey of the first who seeks to incarcerate it again.
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The nature of man is such that people consider themselves put under an obligation as much by the benefits they confer as by those they receive.
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It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.
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It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
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It is a foolish prince who entrusts the safety of his lands to hired men.
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Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself.