Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIIf an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.
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Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
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Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
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Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
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It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope.
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The one who adapts his policy to the times prospers, and likewise that the one whose policy clashes with the demands of the times does not.
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There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
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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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A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.
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Men ought either to be indulged or utterly destroyed, for if you merely offend them they take vengeance, but if you injure them greatly they are unable to retaliate.
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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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For among other evils caused by being disarmed, it renders you contemptible; which is one of those disgraceful things which a prince must guard against.
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The wish to acquire more is admittedly a very natural and common thing; and when men succeed in this they are always praised rather than condemned.
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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
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It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI