There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIIt 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.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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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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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.
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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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No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
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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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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
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If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
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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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A wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
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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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Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
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There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
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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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His good example has such an influence that the good men strive to imitate him, and the wicked are ashamed to lead a life so contrary to his example.
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The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
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War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans.
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But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
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War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.
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Benefits ought to be handed ought drop by drop, so that they may be relished the more.
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Since it is difficult to join them together, it is safer to be feared than to be loved when one of the two must be lacking.
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Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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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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Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
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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 who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI