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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIWe cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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Men are so simple and yield so readily to the desires of the moment that he who will trick will always find another who will suffer to be tricked.
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There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others.
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It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
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Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
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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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Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
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There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
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The new ruler must determine all the injuries that he will need to inflict. He must inflict them once and for all.
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Never was anything great achieved without danger.
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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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Whoever conquers a free town and does not demolish it commits a great error and may expect to be ruined himself.
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To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must be of the people.
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It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
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Before all else, be armed.
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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