No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLINo enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLII’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThe 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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThe distinction between children and adults, while probably useful for some purposes, is at bottom a specious one, I feel. There are only individual egos, crazy for love.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIIt 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 MACHIAVELLIMen should be either treated generously or destroyed, because they take revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIHence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIA return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThe wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIFor 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 MACHIAVELLIOf mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThere 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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLISince 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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThere 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 MACHIAVELLIIt is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIPolitics have no relation to morals.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI