Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Art Quotes, War 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.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Work Quotes , Philosophical Quotes

Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.

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For, in truth, there is no sure way of holding other than by destroying

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Way Quotes

And if, to be sure, sometimes you need to conceal a fact with words, do it in such a way that it does not become known, or, if it does become known, that you have a ready and quick defense.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Needs Quotes , Defense Quotes

...it is a base thing to look to others for your defense instead of depending upon yourself. That defense alone is effectual, sure, and durable which depends upon yourself and your own valor.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Defense Quotes , Looks Quotes

It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating changes. The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is lukewarm ... partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Change Quotes , Men Quotes

There are three kinds of brains: One understands of itself, another can be taught to understand, and the third can neither understand to itself or be taught to understand.

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Men as a whole judge more with their eyes than with their hands.

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Fear is secured by a dread of punishment.

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Men are more apt to be mistaken in their generalizations than in their particular observations.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Justice Quotes

I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Death Quotes , Kings Quotes

One of the great secrets of the day is to know how to take possession of popular prejudices and passions, in such a way as to introduce a confusion of principles which makes impossible all understanding between those who speak the same language and have the same interests.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Passion Quotes , Confusion Quotes

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.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Good Friend Quotes , Should Have Quotes

Decide which is the line of conduct that presents the fewest drawbacks and then follow it out as being the best one, because one never finds anything perfectly pure and unmixed, or exempt from danger.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Decision Quotes , Lines Quotes

For a long time I have not said what I believed, nor do I ever believe what I say, and if indeed sometimes I do happen to tell the truth, I hide it among so many lies that it is hard to find.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Lying Quotes , Believe Quotes

He who has annexed them, if he wishes to hold them, has only to bear in mind two considerations: the one, that the family of their former lord is extinguished; the other, that neither their laws nor their taxes are altered, so that in a very short time they will become entirely one body with the old principality.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Law Quotes , Two Quotes

When men receive favours from someone they expected to do them ill, they are under a greater obligation to their benefactor.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

A wise man ought always to follow the paths beaten by great men, and to imitate those who have been supreme, so that if his ability does not equal theirs, at least it will savor of it. Let him act like the clever archers who, designing to hit the mark which yet appears too far distant, and knowing the limits to which the strength of their bow attains, take aim much higher than the mark, not to reach by their strength or arrow to so great a height, but to be able with the aid of so high an aim to hit the mark they wish to reach.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Strength Quotes , Wise Quotes

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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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Mistake Quotes , Men Quotes