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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThere is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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There are three kinds of intelligence: one kind understands things for itself, the other appreciates what others can understand, the third understands neither for itself nor through others.
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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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He who wishes to be obeyed must know how to command.
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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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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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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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Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
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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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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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I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
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A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
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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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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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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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There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
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It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
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Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
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Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
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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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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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The first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
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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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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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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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI