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 MACHIAVELLIPolitics have no relation to morals.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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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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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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Politics have no relation to morals.
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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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Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
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Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot.
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It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
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It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
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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 shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
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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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Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
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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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI






