Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli Quotes
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Although deceit is detestable in all other things, yet in the conduct of war it is laudable and honorable; and a commander who vanquishes an enemy by stratagem is equally praised with one who gains victory by force.
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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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Men are more ready to offend one who desires to be beloved than one who wishes to be feared.
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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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And truly it is a very natural and ordinary thing to desire to acquire, and always, when men do it who can, they will be praised or not blamed; but when they cannot, and wish to do it anyway, here lies the error and the blame.
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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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Delusion gives you more happiness than truth gives to me. For injuries ought to be done all at one time, so that, being tasted less, they offend less; benefits ought to be given little by little, so that the flavour of them may last longer.
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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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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
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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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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
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The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.
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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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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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God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
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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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Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.
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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
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He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must thereafter fall with the greatest loss.
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Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself.
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The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
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Never do an enemy a small injury.