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Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

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Famous Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

“He who desires or attempts to reform the government of a state and wishes to have it accepted, must at least retain the semblance of the old forms; so that it may seem to the people that there has been no change in the institutions, even though in fact they are entirely different from the old ones. For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were realities.”

PeopleMayHas BeensDifferentStatesFactsRealitySeemsGovernmentFormDesireWishMankindInstitutionsMajorityAppearanceAcceptedSatisfiedReformSemblance
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.”

KnowsShouldMindMayAbleReligiousQualityKnow HowOppositesDareFaithfulUnnecessaryHumaneMercifulFramedGood Quality
Book:The Prince
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“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.”

MenBelieveWellsMayLongDoneHandsLawOrderDifficultSidesEnemyConditionsOughtAriseRememberedOpponentsNew ThingsUncertainArt Of WarIntroductionDefendersInnovatorsLead InLukewarmCoolnessIncredulity
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline.”

MayArtWarStatesOrderCoursesSubjectsPerfectionAffairConfusionAllowingDeclineArt Of WarMundaneProvincesVicissitudes
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“If you only notice human proceedings, you may observe that all who attain great power and riches, make use of either force or fraud; and what they have acquired either by deceit or violence, in order to conceal the disgraceful methods of attainment, they endeavor to sanctify with the false title of honest gains.”

IfsHumansMayArtWarUseOrderForceViolenceHonestGainsMethodRichesTitlesDeceitEndeavorFraudArt Of WarAttainmentGreat PowerProceedingDisgracefulSanctify
Book:History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy
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“I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but cannot oppose it; that they may weave its warp, but cannot break it. Yet they should never give up, because there is always hope, though they know not the end and more towards it along roads which cross one another and as yet are unexplored; and since there is hope, they should not despair, no matter what fortune brings or in what travail they find themselves.”

KnowsMenGivingShouldMayArtWarEndsMatterWholeBreakBearsDespairGiving UpCrossesNo Matter WhatFortuneWitnessNever Giving UpArt Of WarThere Is HopeWarpUnexploredLong Road
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt.”

IfsMenMayChildrenLongArtSaidTwoWarTogetherDifficultBloodDangerOughtOffersBenefitsApproachGainsGoodsAnxiousArt Of WarRevoltUngrateful
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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