The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIMen 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.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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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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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack 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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Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
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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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This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
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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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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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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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It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
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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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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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Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
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So that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI