War is just when it is necessary; arms are permissible when there is no hope except in arms.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLISo that the injury done to a man ought to be such that vengeance cannot be feared.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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Men shrink less from offending one who inspires love than one who inspires fear.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
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 -
But when they lack the ability to do so and yet want to acquire more at all costs, they deserve condemnation for their mistakes.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
There is no avoiding war; it can only be postponed to the advantage of others.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
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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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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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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Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
A return to first principles in a republic is sometimes caused by the simple virtues of one man.
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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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
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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A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
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.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI -
This first kind is excellent, the second good, and the third kind useless.
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One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI