Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli Quotes
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How perilous it is to free a people who prefer slavery.
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Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
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With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.
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...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.
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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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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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A blast in the human breast is nothing to boast of.
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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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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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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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He who has annexed them, if he wishes to hold them, has only to bear in mind two considerations: the one, that the family of their former lord is extinguished; the other, that neither their laws nor their taxes are altered, so that in a very short time they will become entirely one body with the old principality.
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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
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It is better to be bold than too circumspect, because fortune is of a sex which likes not a tardy wooer and repulses all who are not ardent.
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In order not to annul our free will, I judge it true that Fortune may be mistress of one half our actions but then even she leaves the other half, or almost, under our control.
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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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Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.
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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
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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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A battle that you win cancels all your mistakes.
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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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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
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It is a foolish prince who entrusts the safety of his lands to hired men.
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By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.
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Results are often obtained by impetuosity and daring which could never have been obtained by ordinary methods.