Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThe 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.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
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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 MACHIAVELLI -
The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of 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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If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.
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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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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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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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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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It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both.
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A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.
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It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
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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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI