• Categories
  • Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes   389
  • It is a true observation of ancient writers, that as men are apt to be cast down by adversity, so they, are easily satiated with prosperity, and that joy and grief produce the same effects. For whenever men are not obliged by necessity to fight they fight from ambition, which is so powerful a passion in the human breast that however high we reach we are never satisfied.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Powerful Quotes , Grief Quotes
  • A man who wishes to make a profession of goodness in everything must necessarily come to grief among so many who are not good. Therefore, it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge and not use it according to the necessity of the case.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Grief Quotes , Men Quotes
  • The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go together, it is much safer to be feared than loved, if one of the two has to be wanting. For it may be said of men in general that they are ungrateful, voluble, dissemblers, anxious to avoid danger, and covetous of gain; as long as you benefit them, they are entirely yours; they offer you their blood, their goods, their life, and their children, as I have before said, when the necessity is remote; but when it approaches, they revolt.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , Children Quotes
  • One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high taxes from starting a new business. Rather, the Prince should be ready to reward men who want to do these things and those who endeavour in any way to increase the prosperity of their city or their state.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Taken Quotes , Men 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.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Useless 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.
  • 5 years ago



    Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Track Quotes