Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes, Art Quotes, War Quotes

Many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality; for how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather bring about his own ruin than his preservation.

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A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain.

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If the course of human affairs be considered, it will be seen that many things arise against which heaven does not allow us to guard.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Destiny Quotes , Heaven Quotes

Minds are of three kinds: one is capable of thinking for itself; another is able to understand the thinking of others; and a third can neither think for itself nor understand the thinking of others. The first is of the highest excellence, the second is excellent, and the third is worthless.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Thinking Quotes , Mind 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.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , Children 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

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.

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He who blinded by ambition, raises himself to a position whence he cannot mount higher, must thereafter fall with the greatest loss.

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No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.

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A man who is used to acting in one way never changes; he must come to ruin when the times, in changing, no longer are in harmony with his ways.

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

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The distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.

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...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded.

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Since the handling of arms is a beautiful spectacle, it is delightful to young men.

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The state is not an organism capable of bringing either moral or material improvements to the populace...but merely a vehicle of power for the men and party in power.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Party Quotes , Men 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

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.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Peace Quotes , War Quotes

One must consider the final result

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Finals Quotes , Results Quotes

From this arises the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should wish to be both: but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Fear Quotes , Wish Quotes

A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities of their bow and aim a good deal higher than their objective, not in order to shoot so high but so that by aiming high they can reach the target.

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Tags : Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes , Art Quotes , War Quotes