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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 -
Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
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 -
For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.
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 -
You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
For titles do not reflect honor on men, but rather men on their titles.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so that the desire being always greater than the acquisition, there results discontent with the possession and little satisfaction to themselves from it. From this arises the changes in their fortunes; for as men desire, some to have more, some in fear of losing their acquisition, there ensues enmity and war, from which results the ruin of that province and the elevation of another.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Never was anything great achieved without danger.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Men may second fortune, but they cannot thwart her.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank. And, on the contrary, it is seen that when princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states. And the first cause of your losing it is to neglect this art; and what enables you to acquire a state is to be master of the art.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
For without invention, no one was ever a great man in his own trade.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli