Knows Quotes by Niccolo Machiavelli

The leader should know how to enter into evil when necessity commands.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

To know in war how to recognize an opportunity and seize it is better than anything else.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Men generally decide upon a middle course, which is most hazardous, for they know neither how to be entirely good nor entirely…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

So far as he is able, a prince should stick to the path of good but, if the necessity arises, he should…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

The prince must be a lion, but he must also know how to play the fox.

— Niccolo Machiavelli

It is necessary that the prince should know how to color his nature well, and how to be a hypocrite and dissembler.…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A prince being thus obliged to know well how to act as a beast must imitate the fox and the lion, for…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

You must know, then, that there are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

You do not know the unfathomable cowardice of humanity...servile in the face of force, pitiless in the face of weakness, implacable before…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

You must never believe that the enemy does not know how to conduct his own affairs. Indeed, if you want to be…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

When fortune wishes to bring mighty events to a successful conclusion, she selects some man of spirit and ability who knows how…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

Every one sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are, and those few dare not oppose themselves to…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

One of the great secrets of the day is to know how to take possession of popular prejudices and passions, in such…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

I assert once again as a truth to which history as a whole bears witness that men may second their fortune, but…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

You know better than I that in a Republic talent is always suspect. A man attains an elevated position only when his…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

How laudable it is for a prince to keep good faith and live with integrity, and not with astuteness, every one knows.…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A prince must be prudent enough to know how to escape the bad reputation of those vices that would lose the state…

— Niccolo Machiavelli

A prudent man... must behave like those archers who, if they are skillful, when the target seems too distant, know the capabilities…

— Niccolo Machiavelli