Never was anything great achieved without danger.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Friendships that are won by awards, and not by greatness and nobility of soul, although
deserved, yet are not real, and cannot be depended upon in time of adversity.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who
are most excellent, so that if he does not attain to their greatness, at any rate he will get
some tinge of it.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around
him.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened:
everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas in antiquity.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few
have the gift of penetration.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
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.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what you really are.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
There is no other way to guard yourself against flattery than by making men understand that
telling you the truth will not offend you.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense;
benefits should be conferred gradually, and in that way they will taste better.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
It is best to be both feared and loved; however, if one cannot be both, it is better to be
feared than loved.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for
execution.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
The end justifies the means.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
God is not willing to do everything, and thus take away our free will and that share of glory
which belongs to us.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
There are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which
appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by
the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, and the third is
useless.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Men never do good unless necessity drives them to it; but when they are free to choose and
can do just as they please, confusion and disorder become rampant.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are so simple of mind, and so much dominated by their immediate needs, that a deceitful
man will always find plenty who are ready to be deceived.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Men are driven by two two principal impulses, either by love or by fear.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number
who are not good. Hence a prince who wants to keep his authority must learn how not to be
good, and use that knowledge, or refrain from using it, as necessity requires.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Thus a wise prince will think of ways to keep his citizens of every sort and under every
circumstance dependent on the state and on him; and then they will always be trustworthy.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Wars begin when you will, but they do not end when you please.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Good order and discipline in an army are more to be depended upon than ferocity.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their
revenge; but if you cripple them there is nothing they can do. If you need to injure someone,
do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
One can say this in general of men: they are ungrateful, disloyal, insincere and deceitful,
timid of danger and avid of profit. Love is a bond of obligation that these miserable creatures
break whenever it suits them to do so; but fear holds them fast by a dread of punishment
that never passes.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger, 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.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
It ought to be remembered that there is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous
to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a
new order of things. Because the innovator has for enemies all those who have done well
under the old conditions, and lukewarm defenders in those who may do well under the new.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
In judging policies we should consider the results that have been achieved through them
rather than the means by which they have been executed.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
Few men are brave by nature, but good discipline and experience make many so.
– Niccolo Machiavelli
It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of
success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things.
– Niccolo Machiavelli