Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli Quotes
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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.
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And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and so, as I said above, if a prince wishes to maintain the state, he is often obliged not to be good; because whenever that group which you believe you need to support you is corrupted, whether it be the common people, the soldiers, or the nobles, it is to your advantage to follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them; and then good actions are your enemy.
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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
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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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No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.
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Benefits should be granted little by little, so that they may be better enjoyed.
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Never do an enemy a small injury.
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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
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It is a foolish prince who entrusts the safety of his lands to hired men.
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The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
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Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself.
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In the armies and among every ten men there is one of more life, of more heart, or at least of more authority, who with his courage, with words and by example keeps the others firm and disposed to fight.
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A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.
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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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Among other causes of misfortune which your not being armed brings upon you, it makes you despised.
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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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Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony...
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And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.
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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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Anyone who becomes master of a city accustomed to freedom and does not destroy it may expect to be destroyed by it; for such a city may always justify rebellion in the name of liberty and its ancient institutions.
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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.