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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

“A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.”

Art Two War Subjects Ought Accounts Art Of War

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“From the latter he is defended by being well armed and having good allies, and if he is well armed he will have good friends, and affairs will always remain quiet within when they are quiet without, unless they should have been already disturbed by conspiracy; and even should affairs outside be disturbed, if he has carried out his preparations and has lived as I have said, as long as he does not despair, he will resist every attack.”

Ifs Should Wells Long Doe Has Beens Art Said War Quiet Despair Should Have Affair Preparation Latter Allies Conspiracy Good Friend Art Of War Should Have Been Disturbed

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.”

Way Art War Action Winning Battle Losing Good Things Vain Art Of War Bad Actions

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.”

Men Art War Beautiful Young Arms Young Man Delightful Art Of War

Author:Niccolo 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.”

Men Art Made War Seems Action Wanted Fighting Knowing Citizens Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“When they remain in garrison, soldiers are maintained with fear and punishment; when they are then led to war, with hope and reward.”

Art War Rewards Soldier Punishment Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.”

Men Art War Order Doubt Disorder Art Of War Ferocity

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Never lead your soldiers to battle if you have not first confirmed their spirit and known them to be without fear and ordered; and never test them except when you see that they hope to win.”

Ifs Firsts Art War Spirit Winning Known Battle Tests Soldier Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.”

Men Littles Art War Moments Advantage Blow Art Of War Great Moments

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.”

Knows Art War Opportunity Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“In the armies and among every ten men there is one of more life, of more heart, or at least of more authority, who with his courage, with words and by example keeps the others firm and disposed to fight.”

Men Heart Art War Spirit Fighting Example Ten Authority Army Firm Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“In war, discipline can do more than fury.”

Art War Can Do Discipline Art Of War Fury

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Sometimes it has been of great moment while the fight is going on, to disseminate words that pronounce the enemies' captain to be dead, or to have been conquered by another part of the army. Many times this has given victory to him who used it.”

Has Beens Art War Sometimes Moments Used Fighting Given Enemy Victory Army Captains Art Of War Great Moments

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“It is much better to tempt fortune where it can favor you than to see your certain ruin by not tempting it.”

Art War Certain Fortune Favors Ruins Art Of War Tempting

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt.”

Believe Art War Enemy Succeed Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“The greatest remedy that is used against a plan of the enemy is to do voluntarily what he plans that you do by force.”

Art War Used Force Enemy Plans Remedy Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be deceived less and want to bear less danger, the more the enemy is weak or the less the enemy is cautious, so much more must you esteem him.”

Ifs Knows Want Believe Doe Art War Enemy Know How Danger Bears Weak Affair Esteem Deceived Art Of War Cautious

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.”

Art War Force Loss Art Of War Adversaries

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“And above all you ought to guard against leading an army to fight which is afraid or which is not confident of victory. For the greatest sign of an impending loss is when one does not believe one can win.”

Believe Doe Art War Fighting Winning Loss Ought Victory Army Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Necessities can be many, but the one that is stronger is that which constrains you to win or to die.”

Art War Dies Winning Stronger Art Of War Constrain

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose.”

Art War Winning Loses Lord Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“All who contribute to the overthrow of religion, or to the ruin of kingdoms and commonwealths, all who are foes to letters and to the arts which confer honour and benefit on the human race (among whom I reckon the impious, the cruel, the ignorant, the indolent, the base and the worthless), are held in infamy and detestation.”

Humans Art Race Benefits Letters Kingdoms Ignorant Ruins Human Race Honour Worthless Foe Commonwealth Infamy

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

About the Author

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

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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