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Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

Historian

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian historian, political theorist, and philosopher who lived during the Renaissance. He is best known for his book 'The Prince,' which delves into the concepts of power, political tactics, and the art of rule.

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Famous Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

“The vulgar crowd always is taken by appearances, and the world consists chiefly of the vulgar.”

World Taken Crowds Appearance Vulgar

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“One can say this in general of men: they are ungrateful, disloyal, insincere and deceitful, timid of danger and avid of profit...Love is a bond of obligation that these miserable creatures break whenever it suits them to do so; but fear holds them fast by a dread of punishment that never passes.”

Men Love Is Break Danger Creatures Profit Punishment Obligation Suits Miserable Dread Ungrateful Deceitful Avid Insincere Disloyal

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“But in Republics there is a stronger vitality, a fiercer hatred, a keener thirst for revenge. The memory of their former freedom will not let them rest; so that the safest course is either to destroy them, or to go and live in them.”

Courses Memories Hatred Stronger Revenge Former Republic Thirst Vitality

Book:Machiavelli, More & Luther

Source: Machiavelli, More & Luther

“For, besides what has been said, it should be borne in mind that the temper of the multitude is fickle, and that while it is easy to persuade them of a thing, it is hard to fix them in that persuasion”

Should Mind Has Beens Said Hard Easy Temper Multitudes Persuasion Fickle

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed”

People Should Asks Easy Term Oppressed Favour

Book:Machiavelli, More & Luther

Source: Machiavelli, More & Luther

“For one change always leaves a dovetail into which another will fit.”

Book:Machiavelli, More & Luther

Source: Machiavelli, More & Luther

“For it must be noted, that men must either be caressed or else annihilated; they will revenge themselves for small injuries, but cannot do so for great ones; the injury therefore that we do to a man must be such that we need not fear his vengeance.”

Men Needs Revenge Injury Vengeance Great Ones

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“...the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it.”

Believe Mankind Incredulity

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“Half of these aren't even Machiavelli. Some are Plato, Thucydides etc....doesnt anyone check these?”

Half Checks Etc Plato

Author:Niccolo 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.”

Knows World Want Happens Happened This World Ought Contemplation Antiquity Epoch Replica

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“In conclusion, the arms of others either fall from your back, or they weigh you down, or they bind you fast.”

Fall Arms Conclusion

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“I hold strongly to this: that it is better to be impetuous than circumspect; because fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her.”

Ifs Beats Fortune Submissive Coerce Impetuous

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.”

People Ifs Love May Hate Found Politician Hated Popularity Love Hate Fortresses

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“Men sooner forget the death of their father than the loss of their patrimony”

Men Death Father Loss Forget Inheritance Fear Of Love Love And Fear Patrimony

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“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.”

Enemy True Friend

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.”

Should Fall Belief Picks

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying”

Book:Machiavelli, More & Luther

Source: Machiavelli, More & Luther

“The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.”

People War Affection Fortresses Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.”

Men Want Trying Use Numbers Authority Bounds Be Good Ruins Refrain

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“He who builds on the people, builds on the mud”

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“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.”

Wells Might Order Enemy Supporter Better Off Lukewarm

Book:Machiavelli, More & Luther

Source: Machiavelli, More & Luther

“the wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour.”

Ifs Men Should May Has Beens Wise Perfection Acquire Savour

Book:Machiavelli, More & Luther

Source: Machiavelli, More & Luther

“Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many.”

Men Industry Training Brave

Book:The Complete Art of War

Source: The Complete Art of War

“All the States and Governments by which men are or ever have been ruled, have been and are either Republics or Princedoms.”

Men Has Beens States Government Republic

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“Wisdom consists of knowing how to distinguish the nature of trouble, and in choosing the lesser evil.”

Evil Knowing Trouble Lesser Evil

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“it is better to act and repent than not to act and regret.”

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Forgiveness proceeds from a generous soul.”

Inspirational Soul Generous

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“When neither their property nor their honor is touched, the majority of men live content.”

Men Happiness Honor Majority Property Happy Touched Being Happy Being Content

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“Whoever wishes to foresee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results.”

Men Inspirational Humans Has Beens Facts Motivational Past Passion Wish Results History Events Arise Animated

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.”

Life Inspirational Soul Motivational Inspiring Power Plans Ambition Planning

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.”

Reality Seems Truth Mankind Empathy Majority Appearance Satisfied Deception Propaganda Apathy

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating changes. The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is lukewarm ... partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience.”

Men Should Mind Order Difficult Change Enemy Support Dangerous New Things Tested Doubtful Innovators Lukewarm Forthcoming

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

Order Change Enemy Profit Defenders Reformers Lukewarm Incredulity

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities.”

Mind Wells May Character Seems Able Religious Quality Opposites Faithful Sincere Humane Merciful

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state.”

Men Way Want Should States Cities Liberty Taken Ready Taxes Increase Rewards Starting Prosperity One Man Improving Endeavour New Business High Taxes Starting New Business

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Good order and discipline in any army are to be depended upon more than courage alone.”

War Order Discipline Army Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.”

War Gold Soldier Medieval War Good Soldiers

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Among other evils which being unarmed brings you, it causes you to be despised.”

War Evil Causes Gun Art Of War Despised Unarmed Medieval War

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“The princes who have done great things are the ones who have taken little account of their promises.”

Littles War Done Taken Promise Accounts Great Things Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.”

Ifs Knows Should War Able Evil Know How Path Sticks Arise Medieval War

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.”

Should War Whole Force Risk Fortune Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.”

Men War Order Confusion Coward Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.”

War Ends Please Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“To ensure victory the troops must have confidence in themselves as well as in their commanders.”

Wells War Victory Troops Commanders Have Confidence Medieval War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“One of the great secrets of the day is to know how to take possession of popular prejudices and passions, in such a way as to introduce a confusion of principles which makes impossible all understanding between those who speak the same language and have the same interests.”

Knows Way Passion Speak Language Understanding Interest Secret Liberty Principles Know How Impossible Prejudice Possession Confusion Introducing

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“You do not know the unfathomable cowardice of humanity...servile in the face of force, pitiless in the face of weakness, implacable before blunders, indulgent before crimes...and patient to the point of martyrdom before all the violences of bold despotism.”

Knows Faces Humanity Force Liberty Violence Crime Weakness Patient Cowardice Despotism Martyrdom Blunders Unfathomable

Author:Niccolo 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.”

Art War Use Purpose Force Grief Cases Issues Achieve Depends Resources Persuasion Art Of War

Author:Niccolo 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.”

Men Should Art War Safe Secure Servant Comparison Art Of War Unreasonable Unarmed

Author:Niccolo 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.”

Ifs Knows Men Art War Seems Order Deals Higher Aim Objectives Behave Target Capability Bows Imitation Art Of War Prudent Skillful Aim High Archer Prowess

Author:Niccolo 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.”

People Way Art War Forget Violence Taste Benefits Art Of War Resentful

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

About the Author

Born: May 3, 1469
Died: June 21, 1527
Known for: Historian
Quotes: 390

Related Topics

Men War Art Of War Art Should Ifs May Politics Literature Way

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

The PrinceRelated source material

The Portable MachiavelliRelated source material

Machiavelli, More & LutherRelated source material

History of Florence and the Affairs of ItalyRelated source material

Discourses on LivyRelated source material

Machiavelli: The PrinceRelated source material

The Complete Art of WarRelated source material

Niccolò Machiavelli's The PrinceRelated source material

The Art of War and the PrinceRelated source material

The DiscoursesRelated source material

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