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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIA return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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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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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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War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.
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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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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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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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Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
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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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Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
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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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Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
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There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
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Before all else, be armed.
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A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI