Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Wise Quotes, Men Quotes

the wise man should always follow the roads that have been trodden by the great, and imitate those who have most excelled, so that if he cannot reach their perfection, he may at least acquire something of its savour.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Wise Quotes , Men Quotes

I say that every prince must desire to be considered merciful and not cruel. He must, however, take care not to misuse this mercifulness.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by great hopes and brave promises.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , People Quotes , Brave Quotes

And when neither their property nor honour is touched, the majority of men live content, and he has only to contend with the ambition of a few, whom he can curb with ease in many ways.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

Present wars impoverish the lords that win as much as those that lose.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are not good.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Numbers Quotes

Men are so stupid and concerned with their present needs, they will always let themselves be deceived.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Stupid Quotes , Men Quotes

To keep your actions and your plans secret always has been a very good thing . .. Marcus Crassus said to one who asked him when he was going to move the army: 'Do you believe that you will be the only one not to hear the trumpet?

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Believe Quotes , Moving Quotes

Men nearly always follow the tracks made by others and proceed in their affairs by imitation, even though they cannot entirely keep to the tracks of others or emulate the prowess of their models. So a prudent man should always follow in the footsteps of great men and imitate those who have been outstanding.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Track Quotes

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.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Time Quotes , Real Quotes

Without doubt, ferocious and disordered men are much weaker than timid and ordered ones. For order chases fear from men and disorder lessens ferocity.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Simple Quotes , Men Quotes

Hence it happened that all the armed prophets conquered, all the unarmed perished. [It., Di qui nacque che tutti li profeti armati vincero, e li disarmati rovinarono.]

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , Prophet 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.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Mistake Quotes , Ambition 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.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Government Quotes , Able Quotes

The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Love Quotes , Children Quotes

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.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Giving Quotes , Political Quotes

Still, a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate avoids hatred; for fear and the absence of hatred may well go together, and will be always attained by one who abstains from interfering with the property of his citizens and subjects or with their women.

4 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes