Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLIThere is no surer sign of decay in a country than to see the rites of religion held in contempt.
More Niccolo Machiavelli Quotes
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The promise given was a necessity of the past: the word broken is a necessity of the present.
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It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
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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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It is much more secure to be feared than to be loved.
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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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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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The wise man does at once what the fool does finally.
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Princes and governments are far more dangerous than other elements within society.
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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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When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred.
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Of mankind we may say in general they are fickle, hypocritical, and greedy of gain.
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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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Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
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The fact is that a man who wants to act virtuously in every way necessarily comes to grief among so many who are not virtuous.
NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI