Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Grief Quotes, Men Quotes

The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Grief Quotes , Men Quotes

For the mob is always impressed by appearances and by results, and the world is composed of the mob.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , World Quotes , Appearance Quotes

Prudence therefore consists in knowing how to distinguish degrees of disadvantage.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Knowing Quotes , Degrees Quotes

The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Two Quotes , Together Quotes

And what physicians say about disease is applicable here: that at the beginning a disease is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose; but as time passes, not having been recognized or treated at the outset, it becomes easy to diagnose but difficult to cure. The same thing occurs in affairs of state; for by recognizing from afar the diseases that are spreading in the state (which is a gift given only to the prudent ruler), they can be cured quickly; but when, not having been recognized, they are not recognized and are left to grow to the extent that everyone recognizes them, there is no longer any cure.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Physicians Quotes , Disease Quotes

I hold strongly to this: that it is better to be impetuous than circumspect; because fortune is a woman and if she is to be submissive it is necessary to beat and coerce her.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Submissive Quotes , Beats 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Defense Quotes , Looks 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

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

For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do [it] harm.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Government Quotes , Able Quotes

The forces of adversaries are more diminished by the loss of those who flee than of those who are killed.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes

For that reason, let a prince have the credit of conquering and holding his state, the means will always be considered honest, and he will be praised by everybody because the vulgar are always taken by what a thing seems to be and by what comes of it; and in the world there are only the vulgar, for the few find a place there only when the many have no ground to rest on.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Taken Quotes , Mean Quotes

Hence it comes that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Literature Quotes , Prophet 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.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Mistake Quotes , Ambition Quotes

The innovator has for enemies all who have done well under the old, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Enemy Quotes , Done Quotes

Always assume incompetence before looking for conspiracy.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Assuming Quotes , Conspiracy 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

With difficulty he is beaten who can estimate his own forces and those of his enemy.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Enemy Quotes , Force Quotes

And it will always happen that he who is not your friend will request your neutrality and he who is your friend will ask you to declare yourself by taking up arms. And irresolute princes, in order to avoid present dangers, follow the neutral road most of the time, and most of the time they are ruined.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Order Quotes , Neutrality Quotes

It is often found that modesty and humility not only do no good, but are positively hurtful, when they are shown to the arrogant who have taken up a prejudice against you, either from envy or from any other cause.

5 years ago

Message Copied

Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Taken Quotes , Humility Quotes