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Quote by 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.”

Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

Book:The Portable Machiavelli

Work

The Portable Machiavelli

This book is a curated selection of the influential political philosophy of Niccolò Machiavelli, featuring his seminal works such as 'The Prince', which discusses the nature of political power and leadership, and 'The Discourses on Livy', which examines the principles of good government through the lens of Roman history. 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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“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

“For a prince should have two fears: one, internal concerning his subjects; the other, external, concerning foreign powers. From the latter he can always defend himself by his good troops and friends; and he will always have good friends if he has good troops.”

Ifs Should Two Subjects Should Have Latter Internals Troops Good Friend

Book:The Portable Machiavelli

Source: The Portable 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.”

People Ifs Needs Believe Mean Said States Action Order Wish Common Enemy Support Groups Advantage Hatred Soldier Be Good Inclination Obliged Support You Good Actions

Author:Niccolo Machiavelli

“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