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Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Book:History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy

Work

History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy

This book delves into the political and cultural history of Florence, exploring its role in shaping Italy's affairs. It examines the city's development, its key figures, and its impact on the broader Italian landscape. more

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

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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.”

Men Humans Art War Action Mankind Industry Fortune Worried Wicked Thrown Midst Art Of War God And Nature

Book:History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy

Source: History of Florence and the Affairs of Italy

“As all those have shown who have discussed civil institutions, and as every history is full of examples, it is necessary to whoever arranges to found a Republic and establish laws in it, to presuppose that all men are bad and that they will use their malignity of mind every time they have the opportunity.”

Men Mind Art War Use Law Found Opportunity Example Institutions Republic Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“And if such malignity is hidden for a time, it proceeds from the unknown reason that would not be known because the experience of the contrary had not been seen, but time, which is said to be the father of every truth, will cause it to be discovered.”

Ifs Art Said War Reason Father Causes Known Contrary Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“So in all human affairs one notices, if one examines them closely, that it is impossible to remove one inconvenience without another emerging.”

Ifs Humans Art War Impossible Affair Remove Art Of War Emerging Inconvenience

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

“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.”

People Firsts Has Beens Art War Liberty Knowing Prison Woods Accidents Beast Fierce Not Knowing Accustomed Prey Art Of War Servitude Wild Beasts

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

Men Littles Art War Reason Able Desire Results Greater Losing Fortune Satisfaction Possession Arise Ruins Art Of War Discontent Acquisition Provinces Enmity Elevation

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.”

Art War Ends Body Increase Republic Art Of War

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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.”

“The Romans never allowed a trouble spot to remain simply to avoid going to war over it, because they knew that wars don't just go away, they are only postponed to someone else's advantage. Therefore, they made war with Philip and Antiochus in Greece, in order not to have to fight them in Italy... They never went by that saying which you constantly hear from the wiseacres of our day, that time heals all things. They trusted rather their own character and prudence- knowing perfectly well that time contains the seeds of all things, good as well as bad.”