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Quote by Niccolo Machiavelli

“For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd himself.”

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

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“To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one must be of the people.”

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“The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned. But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.”

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“The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.”

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“We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.”

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“Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.”

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“The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.”

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“War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.”

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“It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.”

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“For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.”

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Book:The Prince

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“Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense; benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.”

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Author:Niccolo Machiavelli