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Niccolo Machiavelli

Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

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Famous Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes

“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 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.”

MenShouldMindOrderDifficultChangeEnemySupportDangerousNew ThingsTestedDoubtfulInnovatorsLukewarmForthcoming
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“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.”

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Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.”

KnowsMenArtWarOpportunityEnemyKnow HowIndustryDisciplineBenefitsTrainingBraveArt Of WarFuryConcealedProceeding
Book:The Complete Art of War
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“Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.”

MenWantArtWarPoorPovertyHonestFaithfulServantOverwhelmedArt Of WarHonest ManServitudeFaithlessSagacityFaithful Servants
Book:History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy
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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.”

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Book:History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy
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“The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything: so that the desire being always greater than the acquisition, there results discontent with the possession and little satisfaction to themselves from it. From this arises the changes in their fortunes; for as men desire, some to have more, some in fear of losing their acquisition, there ensues enmity and war, from which results the ruin of that province and the elevation of another.”

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Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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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.”

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Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“A prince ought to have no other aim or thought, nor select anything else for his study, than war and its rules and discipline; for this is the sole art that belongs to him who rules, and it is of such force that it not only upholds those who are born princes, but it often enables men to rise from a private station to that rank. And, on the contrary, it is seen that when princes have thought more of ease than of arms they have lost their states. And the first cause of your losing it is to neglect this art; and what enables you to acquire a state is to be master of the art.”

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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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“How laudable it is for a prince to keep good faith and live with integrity, and not with astuteness, every one knows. Still the experience of our times shows those princes to have done great things who have had little regard for good faith, and have been able by astuteness to confuse men's brains, and who have ultimately overcome those who have made loyalty their foundation.”

KnowsMenLittlesHas BeensArtMadeStillsWarDoneShowsAbleBrainIntegrityOvercomingRegardFoundationLoyaltyGreat ThingsOur TimeArt Of WarGood Faith
Book:The Prince
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“Therefore, a prudent ruler ought not to keep faith when by so doing it would be against his interest, and when the reasons which made him bind himself no longer exist. If men were all good, this precept would not be a good one; but as they are bad, and would not observe their faith with you, so you are not bound to keep faith with them.”

IfsMenArtMadeWarReasonWould BeInterestOughtBoundsRulersArt Of WarPrudentKeep The Faith
Book:The Prince
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“One can generally say this about men: that they are ungrateful, fickle, simulators and deceivers, avoiders of danger, greedy for gain; and while you work for their good they are completely yours, offering you their blood, their property, their lives, and their sons when danger is far away; but when it comes nearer to you, they turn away.”

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Book:The Portable Machiavelli
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“Well used are those cruelties (if it is permitted to speak well of evil) that are carried out in a single stroke, done out of necessity to protect oneself, and are not continued but are instead converted into the greatest possible benefits for the subjects. Badly used are those cruelties which. although being few at the outset, grow with the passing time instead of disappearing. Those who follow the first method can remedy their condition with God and with men; the others cannot possibly survive.”

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Book:The Portable Machiavelli
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