The best fortress which a prince can possess is the affection of his people. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
He who becomes a Prince through the favour of the people should always keep on good terms with them; which it is… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
You have to be a prince to understand the people, and you have to belong to the people to understand the princes. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
The nature of man is such that people consider themselves put under an obligation as much by the benefits they confer as… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
For as good habits of the people require good laws to support them, so laws, to be observed, need good habits on… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
To know well the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to know well the nature of princes one… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
In respect to foresight and firmness, the people are more prudent, more stable, and have better judgement than princes. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
It is just as difficult and dangerous to try to free a people that wants to remain servile as it is to… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
A prince need trouble little about conspiracies when the people are well disposed, but when they are hostile and hold him in… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against;… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
If the chief party, whether it be the people, or the army, or the nobility, which you think most useful and of… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Violence must be inflicted once for all; people will then forget what it tastes like and so be less resentful. Benefits must… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Besides what has been said, people are fickle by nature; and it is a simple to convince them of something but difficult… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
The people resemble a wild beast, which, naturally fierce and accustomed to live in the woods, has been brought up, as it… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
People should either be caressed or crushed. If you do them minor damage they will get their revenge; but if you cripple… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
He who desires or attempts to reform the government of a state and wishes to have it accepted, must at least retain… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
In truth, there never was any remarkable lawgiver amongst any people who did not resort to divine authority, as otherwise his laws… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
By the delusions of seeming good the people are often misled to desire their own ruin; and they are frequently influenced by… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
To understand the nature of the people one must be a prince, and to understand the nature of the prince, one must… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Therefore the best fortress is to be found in the love of the people, for although you may have fortresses they will… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
...people are by nature fickle, and it is easy to persuade them of something, but difficult to keep them persuaded. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share Image
Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely bad. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
It is the duty of a man of honor to teach others the good which he has not been able to do himself because… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
“Anyone who believes that new benefits make men of high station forget old injuries deceives himself.” — Niccolò Machiavelli Copy Share
He who has once begun to live by rapine always finds reasons for taking what is not his. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
Everyone who wants to know what will happen ought to examine what has happened: everything in this world in any epoch has their replicas… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
Speaking generally, men are ungrateful, fickle, hypocritical, fearful odanger and covetous ogain. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
There is nothing as likely to succeed as what the enemy believes you cannot attempt. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
That prince is highly esteemed who conveys this impression of himself, and he who is highly esteemed is not easily conspired against; for, provided… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
“Anyone who studies present and ancient affairs will easily see how in all cities and all peoples there still exist, and have always existed,… — Niccolò Machiavelli Copy Share
I believe that it is possible for one to praise, without concern, any man after he is dead since every reason and supervision for… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
Men are always averse to enterprises in which they foresee difficulties. — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
“He who causes another to become powerful ruins himself, for he brings such a power into being either by design or by force, and… — Niccolo Machiavelli Copy Share
