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Quote by Petrarch

“It is better to will the good than to know the truth.”

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Petrarch, a renowned Italian poet of the Renaissance era, is known as the father of humanism. Born on July 20, 1304, and died on July 19, 1374, his lyrical poetry and humanist thoughts had a profound impact on later generations. more

“And what physicians say about disease is applicable here: that at the beginning a disease is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but as time passes, not having been recognized or treated at the outset, it becomes easy to diagnose but difficult to cure. The same thing occurs in affairs of state; for by recognizing from afar the diseases that are spreading in the state (which is a gift given only to the prudent ruler), they can be cured quickly; but when, not having been recognized, they are not recognized and are left to grow to the extent that everyone recognizes them, there is no longer any cure.”

States Left Given Grows Easy Difficult Disease Affair Treated Cures Rulers Physicians Recognizing Prudent Time Passes Afar

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

Ifs Men Firsts Wells Done Used Evil Speak Grows Conditions Subjects Protect Benefits Method Oneself Disappear Passing Passings Cruelty Remedy Strokes

Book:The Portable Machiavelli

Source: The Portable Machiavelli

“Besides what has been said, people are fickle by nature; and it is a simple to convince them of something but difficult to hold them in that conviction; and, therefore, affairs should be managed in such a way that when they no longer believe, they can be made to believe by force.”

People Way Should Believe Has Beens Made Said Force Difficult Simple Affair Conviction Convince Fickle

Book:The Portable Machiavelli

Source: The Portable Machiavelli

“Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible, and not to be forced to become rapacious, a prince must consider it of little importance if he incurs the name of miser, for this is one of the vices that permits him to rule.”

Ifs Littles Able Order Poor Subjects Importance Vices Reputation Permit Misers

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

Men Wells Children Long Said Turns Risk Blood Danger Treats Property Profit Liars Shed Greedy Ungrateful Fickle Generalization Deceiver

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Men are less hesitant about harming someone who makes himself loved than one who makes himself feared because love is held together by a chain of obligation which, since men are wretched creatures, is broken on every occasion in which their own interests are concerned; but fear is sustained by dread of punishment which will never abandon you.”

Men Together Interest Love Is Broken Self Love Creatures Concerned Punishment Obligation Chains Occasions Abandon Dread Wretched Hesitant Every Occasion

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“Minds are of three kinds: one is capable of thinking for itself; another is able to understand the thinking of others; and a third can neither think for itself nor understand the thinking of others. The first is of the highest excellence, the second is excellent, and the third is worthless.”

Thinking Mind Firsts Kind Able Three Highest Capable Thirds Excellence Excellent Worthless Thinking Of Others

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

Quote by Petrarch

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