Never was anything great achieved without danger.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThe first method for estimating the intelligence of a ruler is to look at the men he has around him.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
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Before all else, be armed.
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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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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.
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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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Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
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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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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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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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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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A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
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Tardiness often robs us opportunity, and the dispatch of our forces.
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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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There is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
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Whosoever desires constant success must change his conduct with the times.
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It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
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Nature that framed us of four elements, warring within our breasts for regiment, doth teach us all to have aspiring minds.
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The more sand has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it.
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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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It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
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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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Where the willingness is great, the difficulties cannot be great.
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So that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.
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We cannot attribute to fortune or virtue that which is achieved without either.
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I’m not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI