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Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

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Niccolo Machiavelli
Niccolo Machiavelli

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. more

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“In the same manner, having been reduced by disorder, and sunk to their utmost state of depression, unable to descend lower, they, of necessity, reascend; and thus from good they gradually decline to evil, and from evil again return to good. The reason is, that valor produces peace; peace, repose; repose, disorder; disorder, ruin; so from disorder order springs; from order virtue, and from this, glory and good fortune.”

ArtWarStatesReasonOrderEvilVirtueProduceReturnSpringGloryFortuneRuinsDisorderDeclineArt Of WarGood FortuneReposeValor
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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“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.”

MenHumansArtWarActionMankindIndustryFortuneWorriedWickedThrownMidstArt Of WarGod And Nature
Book:History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy
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“I am firmly convinced, therefore, that to set up a republic which is to last a long time, the way to set about it is to constitute it as Sparta and Venice were constituted; to place it in a strong position, and so to fortify it that no one will dream of taking it by a sudden assault; and, on the other hand, not to make it so large as to appear formidable to its neighbors. It should in this way be able to enjoy its form of government for a long time. For war is made on a commonwealth for two reasons: to subjugate it, and for fear of being subjugated by it.”

WayShouldLongArtMadeTwoWarReasonDreamHandsGovernmentAbleLastsFormStrongEnjoyPositionLong TimeConvincedNeighborRepublicAssaultArt Of WarVeniceForms Of GovernmentFormidableCommonwealthSparta
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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“The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it were, in a prison and in servitude, and having by accident got its liberty, not being accustomed to search for its food, and not knowing where to conceal itself, easily becomes the prey of the first who seeks to incarcerate it again.”

PeopleFirstsHas BeensArtWarLibertyKnowingPrisonWoodsAccidentsBeastFierceNot KnowingAccustomedPreyArt Of WarServitudeWild Beasts
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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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.”

MenLittlesArtWarReasonAbleDesireResultsGreaterLosingFortuneSatisfactionPossessionAriseRuinsArt Of WarDiscontentAcquisitionProvincesEnmityElevation
Author:Niccolo Machiavelli
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