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One can make this generalization about men: they are ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers, they shun danger and are greedy for profit; while you treat them well, they are yours. They would shed their blood for you, risk their property, their lives, their children, so long, as I said above, as danger is remote; but when you are in danger they turn against you.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The chief foundations of all states, new as well as old or composite, are good laws and good arms.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Cruelties should be committed all at once.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Change has no constituency.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it were, in a prison and in servitude, and having by accident got its liberty, not being accustomed to search for its food, and not knowing where to conceal itself, easily becomes the prey of the first who seeks to incarcerate it again.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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Where the very safety of the country depends upon the resolution to be taken, no consideration of justice or injustice, humanity or cruelty, nor of glory or of shame, should be allowed to prevail. But putting all other considerations aside, the only question should be: What course will save the life and liberty of the country?
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
One should never permit a disorder to persist in order to avoid a war, for wars cannot be avoided and can only be deferred to the advantage of others.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
It is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
Then also pretexts for seizing property are never wanting, and one who begins to live by rapine will always find some reason for taking the goods of others, whereas causes for taking life are rarer and more quickly destroyed.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli
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God and nature have thrown all human fortunes into the midst of mankind; and they are thus attainable rather by rapine than by industry, by wicked actions rather than by good. Hence it is that men feed upon each other, and those who cannot defend themselves must be worried.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful conclusion, she selects some man of spirit and ability who knows how to seize the opportunity she offers.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
And the prince who has relied solely on their words, without making other preparations, is ruined, for the friendship which is gained by purchase and not through grandeur and nobility of spirit is merited but is not secured, and at times is not to be had.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli -
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory which belongs to us.
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli