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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIA wise ruler ought never to keep faith when by doing so it would be against his interests.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
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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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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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Severities should be dealt out all at once, so that their suddenness may give less offense.
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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.
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Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil.
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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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Men are so simple and so much inclined to obey immediate needs that a deceiver will never lack victims for his deceptions.
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I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
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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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This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
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Before all else, be armed.
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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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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI