Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli Quotes
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There is nothing more important than appearing to be religious.
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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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Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.
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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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You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes.
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You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.
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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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To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.
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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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Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.
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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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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.
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Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.
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Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.
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A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.
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Gold will not always get you good soldiers, but good soldiers can get you gold.
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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.
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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.
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No one should therefore fear that he cannot accomplish what others have accomplished, for, men are born, live, and die in quite the same way they always have.
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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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A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man. His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.
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Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony...
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Men as a whole judge more with their eyes than with their hands.