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It is a true observation of ancient writers, that as men are apt to be cast down by adversity, so they, are easily satiated with prosperity, and that joy and grief produce the same effects. For whenever men are not obliged by necessity to fight they fight from ambition, which is so powerful a passion in the human breast that however high we reach we are never satisfied.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Never do an enemy a small injury.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries - for heavy ones they cannot.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prince is also respected when he is a true friend and a true enemy; that is, when he declares himself on the side of one prince against another without any reservation.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The world has always been the same; and there is always as much good fortune as bad in it.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A wise prince then...should never be idle in times of peace but should industriously lay up stores of which to avail himself in times of adversity so that when fortune abandons him he may be prepared to resist her blows.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
If the chief party, whether it be the people, or the army, or the nobility, which you think most useful and of most consequence to you for the conservation of your dignity, be corrupt, you must follow their humor and indulge them, and in that case honesty and virtue are pernicious.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
For this is the tragedy of man circumstances change, but he does not.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony...
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself; for that power is produced by him either through craft or force; and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
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.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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We must distinguish between those who depend on others, that is between those who to achieve their purposes can force the issue and those who must use persuasion. In the second case, they always come to grief, having achieved nothing; when, however, they depend on their own resources and can force the issue, then they are seldom endangered.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Nothing is of greater importance in time of war than in knowing how to make the best use of a fair opportunity when it is offered.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because of the malignity of the times, that this good finally can be done by another more loved in heaven.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli