Niccolo Machiavelli

Nothing feeds upon itself as liberality does.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Good order makes men bold, and confusion, cowards.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

He who builds on the people, builds on the mud

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Men ought either to be well treated, or crushed.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

The sinews of war are not gold, but good soldiers.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

In war, discipline can do more than fury.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Cruelties should be committed all at once.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

One must consider the final result

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“es que el que ayuda a otro a hacerse poderoso provoca su propia ruina.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“the best possible fortress is—not to be hated by the people”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“men live peacefully as long as their old way of life is maintained and there is no change in customs.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

One change always leaves the way open for the establishment of others.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

So long as the great majority of men are not deprived of either property or honor, they are satisfied.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer.”

— Niccolò Machiavelli

There should be many judges, for few will always do the will of few.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

War should be the only study of a prince. He should consider peace only as a breathing-time, which gives him leisure to…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Though fraud in all other actions be odious, yet in matters of war it is laudable and glorious, and he who overcomes…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

For government consists in nothing else but so controlling subjects that they shall neither be able to, nor have cause to do…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“One ought perhaps not to count Moses, as he was a mere executor of the will of God; he must nevertheless be…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

For whoever conquers a free Town, and does not demolish it, commits a great Error, and may expect to be ruin 'd…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

He who makes war his profession cannot be otherwise than vicious. War makes thieves, and peace brings them to the gallows.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

For, besides what has been said, it should be borne in mind that the temper of the multitude is fickle, and that…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Any man who tries to be good all the time is bound to come to ruin among the great number who are…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“The wish to acquire is no doubt a natural and common sentiment, and when men attempt things within their power, they will…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“Men are so self-complacent in their own affairs, and so willing to deceive themselves, that they are rescued with difficulty from this…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“From this one can derive a general rule which rarely, if ever, fails: that anyone who is the cause of another becoming…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

He who has annexed them [some principalities], if he wishes to hold them, has only to bear in mind two considerations: the…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A prince must not have any objective nor any thought, nor take up any art, other than the art of war and…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Therefore, in order not to have to rob his subjects, to be able to defend himself, not to become poor and contemptible,…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

One man should not be afraid of improving his posessions, lest they be taken away from him, or another deterred by high…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

The reply is, that one ought to be both feared and loved, but as it is difficult for the two to go…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“This lukewarm temper arises partly from the fear of adversaries who have the laws on their side, and partly from the incredulity…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“Roman authorities recommended that a very effective way to persuade and move a person or a council to adopt a particular policy…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“When evening comes, I return home and enter my study; on the threshold I take off my workday clothes, covered with mud…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

“When evening comes, I return to my home, and I go into my study; and on the thresh-hold, I take off my…

— Niccolò Machiavelli

An armed republic submits less easily to the rule of one of its citizens than a republic armed by foreign forces. Rome…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

And here one must not that hatred is acquired just as much by means of good actions as by bad ones; and…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

“A prince, therefore, ought always to take counsel, but only when he wishes and not when others wish; he ought rather to…

— Niccolò Machiavelli