Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Reason Quotes, Should Quotes

(A ruler) cannot and should not keep his word when to do so would go against his interests or when the reason he pledged it no longer holds.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Reason Quotes , Should Quotes

There is simply no comparison between a man who is armed and one who is not. It is simply unreasonable to expect that an armed man should obey one who is unarmed, or that an unarmed man should remain safe and secure when his servants are armed.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

You do not know the unfathomable cowardice of humanity...servile in the face of force, pitiless in the face of weakness, implacable before blunders, indulgent before crimes...and patient to the point of martyrdom before all the violences of bold despotism.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Humanity Quotes , Liberty Quotes

The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , Soldier Quotes

Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will not save you if you are hated by the people.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Love Quotes , Hate Quotes

We must distinguish between those who depend on others, that is between those who to achieve their purposes can force the issue and those who must use persuasion. In the second case, they always come to grief, having achieved nothing; when, however, they depend on their own resources and can force the issue, then they are seldom endangered.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

The lion cannot protect himself from traps, and the fox cannot defend himself from wolves. One must therefore be a fox to recognize traps, and a lion to frighten wolves.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Lions Quotes , Foxes Quotes

For titles do not reflect honor on men, but rather men on their titles.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Men Quotes , Honor 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

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

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , Ends 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

Those who either from imprudence or want of sagacity avoid doing so, are always overwhelmed with servitude and poverty; for faithful servants are always servants, and honest men are always poor; nor do any ever escape from servitude but the bold and faithless, or from poverty, but the rapacious and fraudulent.

5 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , People Quotes , Brave Quotes

A prince ought to have two fears, one from within, on account of his subjects, the other from without, on account of external powers.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

One should never risk one's whole fortune unless supported by one's entire forces.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , Risk Quotes

In truth, there never was any remarkable lawgiver amongst any people who did not resort to divine authority, as otherwise his laws would not have been accepted by the people; for there are many good laws, the importance of which is known to be the sagacious lawgiver, but the reasons for which are not sufficiently evident to enable him to persuade others to submit to them; and therefore do wise men, for the purpose of removing this difficulty, resort to divine authority.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Wise Quotes , Men Quotes

Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes his enemies by stratagem is as much to be praised as he who overcomes them by force.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , War Quotes , Enemy Quotes

....it cannot be called ingenuity to kill one's fellow citizens, to betray friends, to be without faith, without mercy, without religion; by these means one can aquire power but not glory.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Mean Quotes , Citizens Quotes

Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Eye Quotes , Men Quotes