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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIHence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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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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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
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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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Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense.
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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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It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
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A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
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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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It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
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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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One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.
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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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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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Men should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot.
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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI