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Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious, a prince must consider it of little importance if he incurs the name of miser, for this is one of the vices that permits him to rule.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Is it better to be loved or feared?
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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The reformer has enemies in all who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
One must be a fox to recognize traps and a lion to frighten wolves...
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
I am firmly convinced, therefore, that to set up a republic which is to last a long time, the way to set about it is to constitute it as Sparta and Venice were constituted; to place it in a strong position, and so to fortify it that no one will dream of taking it by a sudden assault; and, on the other hand, not to make it so large as to appear formidable to its neighbors. It should in this way be able to enjoy its form of government for a long time. For war is made on a commonwealth for two reasons: to subjugate it, and for fear of being subjugated by it.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in antiquity.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
In our own days we have seen no princes accomplish great results save those who have been accounted miserly.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
One arises from a low to a high station more often by using fraud instead of force.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new. This coolness arises partly from fear of the opponents, who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity of men, who do not readily believe in new things until they have had a long experience of them.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Hence it comes that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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It has always been the opinion and judgment of wise men that nothing can be so uncertain as fame or power not founded on its own strength.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying...
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared because love is held together by a chain of obligation which, since men are wretched creatures, is broken on every occasion in which their own interests are concerned; but fear is sustained by dread of punishment which will never abandon you.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
For he who innovates will have for his enemies all those who are well off under the existing order of things, and only lukewarm supporters in those who might be better off under the new.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one become aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for the lion cannot protect himself from snares, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
(A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli