Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Art Quotes, War Quotes

A prince... must learn from the fox and the lion... One must be a fox in order to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves. Those who act simply as lions are stupid. So it follows that a prudent ruler cannot, and must not, honour his word when it places him at a disadvantage and when the reasons for which he made his promise no longer exist.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

A wise prince will seek means by which his subjects will always and in every possible condition of things have need of his government, and then they will always be faithful to him.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Wise Quotes , Mean Quotes

As the observance of divine institutions is the cause of the greatness of republics, so the disregard of them produces their ruin; for where the fear of God is wanting, there the country will come to ruin, unless it be sustained the fear of the prince, which temporarily supply the want of religion.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Country Quotes , Greatness Quotes

It may be observed, that provinces amid the vicissitudes to which they are subject, pass from order into confusion, and afterward recur to a state of order again; for the nature of mundane affairs not allowing them to continue in an even course, when they have arrived at their greatest perfection, they soon begin to decline.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

Any harm you do to a man should be done in such a way that you need not fear his revenge.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Revenge Quotes , Men 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Mistake Quotes , Men Quotes

Because just as good morals, if they are to be maintained, have need of the laws, so the laws, if they are to be observed, have need of good morals.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Law Quotes , Needs 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should know how to follow evil.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , Evil Quotes

They have not any difficulties on the way up because they fly, but they have many when they reach the summit.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Achievement Quotes , Way Quotes

He who builds on the people, builds on the mud

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , People Quotes

Knowing how to fight made men more bold, because no one fears doing what it seems to him he has learned to do. Therefore, the ancients wanted their citizens to be trained in every warlike action.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , People Quotes

He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is easy for him to do, since all they ask is not to be oppressed

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , People Quotes , Favour Quotes

Whoever is the cause of another becoming powerful, is ruined himself; for that power is produced by him either through craft or force; and both of these are suspected by the one who has been raised to power.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Powerful Quotes , Crafts Quotes

Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Motivational Quotes , Philosophical Quotes

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Done Quotes , Ruins Quotes

The end of the republic is to enervate and to weaken all other bodies so as to increase its own body.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

Therefore it is unnecessary for a prince to have all the good qualities I have enumerated, but it is very necessary to appear to have them. And I shall dare to say this also, that to have them and always to observe them is injurious, and that to appear to have them is useful; to appear merciful, faithful, humane, religious, upright, and to be so, but with a mind so framed that should you require not to be so, you may be able and know how to change to the opposite.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Religious Quotes , Opposites Quotes

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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Crazy Quotes , Military Quotes