Home / Quotes / Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

“And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and so, as I said above, if a prince wishes to maintain the state, he is often obliged not to be good; because whenever that group which you believe you need to support you is corrupted, whether it be the common people, the soldiers, or the nobles, it is to your advantage to follow their inclinations in order to satisfy them; and then good actions are your enemy.”

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Author

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

You May Also Like

“It would be a much better country if women did not vote. That is simply a fact. In fact, in every presidential election since 1950 - except Goldwater in '64 - the Republican would have won, if only the men had voted.”

Ifs Men Country Facts Would Be Republican Vote Election Presidential Presidential Election

Book:If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans

Source: If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans

“And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined.”

Happens Order Asks Danger Arms Ruined Request Neutrality

Book:The Portable Machiavelli

Source: The Portable Machiavelli

“Occasionally words must serve to veil the facts. But let this happen in such a way that no one become aware of it; or, if it should be noticed, excuses must be at hand to be produced immediately.”

Ifs Way Should Facts Hands Happens Excuse Veils

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

“The wish to acquire is in truth very natural and common, and men always do so when they can.but when they cannot do so, yet wish to do so by any means, then there is folly and blame.”

Men Mean Wish Natural Common Blame Folly Acquire

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved.”

Two Would Be Together Courses Answers Greater Security Compelled Being Loved

Book:The Prince

Source: The Prince

“For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob.”

World Results Appearance Impressed

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“The prince who relies upon their words, without having otherwise provided for his security, is ruined; for friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.”

Real Soul Time Security Greatness Adversity Rely Awards Ruined Nobility Rely Upon Times Of Adversity

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“When a character is born, he acquires at once such an independence, even of his own author, that he can be imagined by everybody even in many other situations where the author never dreamed of placing him; and so he acquires for himself a meaning which the author never thought of giving him.”

Giving Character Born Situation Independence Acquire

Book:Six Characters in Search of an Author

Source: Six Characters in Search of an Author

“We think we understand each other, but we never really do.”

Book:Six Characters in Search of an Author

Source: Six Characters in Search of an Author