Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Government Quotes, Able Quotes

For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.

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Men seldom rise from low condition to high rank without employing either force or fraud, unless that rank should be attained either by gift or inheritance.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Power Quotes , Men Quotes

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.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

The nature of man is such that people consider themselves put under an obligation as much by the benefits they confer as by those they receive.

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I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Philosophical Quotes , Challenging The Status Quo Quotes

I don't doubt that every prince would like to be both; but since it is hard to accomodate these qualities, if you have to make a choice, to be feared is much safer than to be loved. For it is a good general rule about men, that they are ungrateful, fickle, liars, and deceivers, fearful of danger and greedy for gain....[love] is a link of obligation which men, because they are rotten, will break anything they think doing so serves their advantage; but fear involves dread of punishment, from which they can never escape.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Liars Quotes , Love Is Quotes

Men are of three different capacities: one understands intuitively; another understands so far as it is explained; and a third understands neither of himself nor by explanation. The first is excellent, the second, commendable, and the third, altogether useless.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Useless Quotes

There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Country Quotes , Philosophical Quotes

One should never fall in the belief that you can find someone to pick you up.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Fall Quotes , Belief Quotes

The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Life Quotes , Positive Quotes

Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, sincere, religious, and also to be so; but you must have the mind so disposed that when it is needful to be otherwise you may be able to change to the opposite qualities.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Religious Quotes , Character Quotes

....nothing is so unhealthy or unstable as the reputation for power that is not based on one's own power.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Politics Quotes , Reputation Quotes

No proceeding is better than that which you have concealed from the enemy until the time you have executed it. To know how to recognize an opportunity in war, and take it, benefits you more than anything else. Nature creates few men brave, industry and training makes many. Discipline in war counts more than fury.

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Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.

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He who would foresee what is to happen should look to what has happened: for all that is has its counterpart in time past.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Past Quotes , Looks Quotes

I consider it a mark of great prudence in a man to abstain from threats or any contemptuous expressions, for neither of these weaken the enemy, but threats make him more cautious, and the other excites his hatred, and a desire to revenge himself.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Revenge Quotes , Men Quotes

Every little advantage is of great moment when men have to come to blows.

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There is nothing so difficult or so dangerous as to undertake to change the order of things.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Order Quotes , Dangerous Quotes

The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Wise Quotes , Wisdom Quotes

In war, discipline can do more than fury.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes