But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIA prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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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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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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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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A son can bear with equanimity the loss of his father, but the loss of his inheritance may drive him to despair.
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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.
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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.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
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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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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
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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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This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
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Before all else, be armed.
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The main foundations of every state, new states as well as ancient or composite ones, are good laws and good arms you cannot have good laws without good arms, and where there are good arms, good laws inevitably follow.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI