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I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for adulation is lacking.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The prince must consider, as has been in part said before, how to avoid those things which will make him hated or contemptible; and as often as he shall have succeeded he will have fulfilled his part, and he need not fear any danger in other reproaches.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
As all those have shown who have discussed civil institutions, and as every history is full of examples, it is necessary to whoever arranges to found a Republic and establish laws in it, to presuppose that all men are bad and that they will use their malignity of mind every time they have the opportunity.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Before all else, be armed.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Human beings remain constant in their methods of conduct.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
It is necessary that the prince should know how to color his nature well, and how to be a hypocrite and dissembler. For men are so simple, and yield so much to immediate necessity, that the deceiver will never lack dupes.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war, its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prince who is not himself wise cannot be wisely advised. . . . Good advice depends on the shrewdness of the prince who seeks it, and not the shrewdness of the prince on good advice.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
He who is the cause of another's advancement is thereby the cause of his own ruin.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
We must bear in mind, then, that there is nothing more difficult and dangerous, or more doubtful of success, than an attempt to introduce a new order of things in any state. For the innovator has for enemies all those who derived advantages from the old order of things, whilst those who expect to be benefited by the new institutions will be but lukewarm defenders.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
How we live is so different from how we ought to live that he who studies what ought to be done rather than what is done will learn the way to his downfall rather than to his preservation.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli